Mooney set to compete in European final in Rome tonight

Tullamore Harriers athlete Laura Mooney will compete in the women’s 10,000m final at the European Athletics Championships tonight (Tuesday), June 11.

The evening session in Rome will see Cappincur native Mooney and Ireland colleague Anika Thompson look to bank valuable senior championships experience with the pair taking to the track for the final from 8.30pm (Irish time).

The evening session, including the women’s 10,000m final, will be shown live on the RTÉ Player.

Thompson broke Mooney’s U23 10,000m national record in California at the end of March, and the USA-based pair are sure to have sights set on breaking into the top 20 as they chase down personal best performances.

Laura recorded her personal best of 33:00.20 for 10,000m in March and held the national U23 record for a few hours before Thompson lowered it. The Offaly woman represented Ireland at the European Cross Country Championships in 2021 and 2022.

Studying in Providence where she is coached by Irish man Ray Treacy, Mooney (22) finished 6th in the 5000m at the European U20 Championships in 2021.

Tullamore Harriers AC is naturally filled with pride as Laura prepares to compete alongside the best 10,000m athletes in Europe. "Your club mates and friends in Tullamore Harriers are all very proud of you Laura. Give it socks!" the club posted online.

In general, these are hugely exciting times for Irish athletics, with Ciara Mageean winning the gold medal in the 1500m on Sunday night, a wonderful achievement which followed the mixed 4x400m relay team winning a historic gold medal last Friday night.

The mixed 4x400m relay team consisted of Chris O'Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley. And then last night (Monday), sprinting sensation Adeleke secured silver in the individual 400m.

Indeed, Adeleke was extremely close to winning the gold medal, running a sensational new national record time of 49.07, just behind Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek, who took the gold in 48.98.