ATHLETICS EURO U-23 CHAMPIONSHIP:THERE ARE further hopes of medal success among the 20-strong Ireland team taking part in the European Under-23 Championships, which get under way later today in Ostrava, in the Czech Republic.

Hot on the heels of Kate Veale – who last Friday won Ireland’s first gold medal at the IAAF World Youth Championships with a superb performance in the 5km walk in Lille – come the likes of Darren McBrearty, Brian Gregan, and Niamh Whelan.

But the competition will be intense. Among those taking part are world indoor triple-jump champion and world record-holder Teddy Tamgho of France, European indoor 800 metres champion Adam Kszczot of Poland, and Germany’s European indoor shot put medallist David Storl.

The Irish team includes five hurdlers, with new Irish Under-23 record-holder Jessie Barr competing in the 400m hurdles, with Timmy Crowe and Paul Byrne.

Whelan was a finalist at European Juniors in 2009, and will compete in the 100m and 200m, while Gregan, a former World Junior finalist, will compete in the 400m. His personal best of 46.21 could put him in the hunt for a medal, and he has run a seasonal best this year of 46.63 to top the Irish rankings.

McBrearty will double up in the 800m and 1,500m, although having run a personal best of 1.47.79 in June he will be focusing on the 800m.

Next week, Ciara Mageean will look to end her superb junior career on a high note when she competes in 1,500m at the European Junior Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, where she will be part of a 15-strong Irish team. Mark English will also fancy his chances in the 800m.

At 17, Veale, of course, would have been eligible for both grades, but the World Youth Championships had always been her priority.