Keane selected on Ireland squad for World Athletics Relays
A major milestone in the athletics career of Rosemount’s Aaron Keane has arrived with his selection in the Ireland squad for the World Athletics Relays in China.
The 23-year-old has been named on both the men’s 4x400m and mixed relay squads. With such high profile names as Rhasidat Adeleke, Sharlene Mawdsley, Sophie Becker and Phil Healy part of the women’s contingent, Keane is in exalted company indeed.
The two-day competition will see the top 14 teams in each event automatically qualify for the World Championships in Tokyo in September of this year.
Speaking on Monday evening when preparing for a flight to Hong Kong last Tuesday afternoon, Aaron said he was on a training camp in Tenerife when he got the call that he had been selected to compete in China.
“I was racing in Malta recently against a good friend, Hugo Magee, and managed to beat him. I ran a 400m PB of 47.4 which was enough to be selected. It was harsh on Hugo as I knocked him out, but that’s the nature of the sport,” he said.
Asked about the fact that he has been selected in an Irish squad alongside some Paris Olympians, Aaron said: “To be on the same panel as them will be a great learning experience. It’s cool to be mixing with people like that. I have massive respect for those athletes and maybe I’ll have a bit of imposter syndrome at the start.
“But any time I’ve met any of those guys, I found them to be unbelievably humble and approachable. For example, Tom Barr, who retired last year, is such a nice fella. These athletes don’t come across like they are Premier League soccer stars or anything like that,” he added with a laugh.
A son of Geraldine and David Keane, Aaron hails from a renowned sporting family with several connections to high level sport.
His brother Adam is part of this year’s Westmeath under-20 football team and his sister Rachel, now a physiotherapist, also showed considerable talent as an athlete.
Having studied medicine for three years in the University of Galway, Aaron took a break from his studies and he currently works with the company who runs the Leaving Cert Plus app.
“It was difficult to balance studying medicine with athletics,” said the Tullamore Harriers athlete, but he added that he intends to return to medicine in the future.
Now coached by Brendan Glynn, Aaron does much of his training in Dangan in Galway. His main training partners are Andrew Egan and Robert McDonnell. Ger Hensey of Tullamore Harriers previously coached Aaron and he still helps the Rosemount native with his strength and conditioning.
Keane is part of an Ireland squad of 14 athletes, seven men and seven women.
The target for the Irish team is to qualify for this year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The heats take place in Guangzhou, China on Saturday week, May 10, with the finals set for the following day.
The increased depth in Irish athletics over the 400 metres distance has been a notable trend in recent years, with the advent of the mixed relays to top level competitions providing additional opportunities for Irish athletes to compete for medals.
“There are a lot of 200m runners moving up to 400m and 800m runners moving down to 400m,” Aaron pointed out.
Aaron has been a member of Tullamore Harriers AC for several years and the club has extended congratulations and best wishes to him ahead of the World Athletics Relays. “A huge achievement and we look forward to your performance Aaron,” said the club.