Harriers athlete helps Ireland team to success in Poland

Ireland claimed a brilliant victory in Division 3 of the team championships at the European Games last week, with Ava O’Connor of Tullamore Harriers one of the athletes contributing to the superb team performance across the three action-packed days.

The competition took place in the Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland, with the Irish athletes competing on the first three days.

Team Ireland was competing in Division 3, with the main objective being to gain enough points and strong enough performances to move into Division 2. This was done in a comfortable fashion, with Ireland finishing nearly 20 points ahead of nearest challengers Austria.

Ava (19) had a fantastic run and finished third in the Women’s 3000m steeplechase in a time of 10:18.10. She went through the first kilometre in fourth place and then was able to pass the Austrian athlete, who was the big focus in terms of the team competition.

Ava passed 2000m in 6:43 and was then able to take the foot off the gas as she cruised home in third spot.

O'Connor, from Emo in Co. Laois, has run for Tullamore Harriers AC for a number of years, winning several honours while representing the club. She is currently on a scholarship at Adams State University in Colorado.

Next up for Ava is the All-Ireland U23 Championships which will be hosted by Tullamore Harriers this Sunday, July 2.