Brendan Boyce slated for race walk return in Czech Republic

Three-time Olympian Brendan Boyce is slated for a return to action this weekend.

The Finn Valley AC athlete was selected as part of the Ireland squad for the European Race Walking Team Championships.

The event takes place in Podebrady, Czech Republic on Sunday.

Milford native Boyce has not competed since last summer.

An attempted 11th hour Olympic qualification bid, alongside Kate Veale in the marathon race walk mixed really, ended in Santry.

The pair finished in 3:13.34 at Morton Stadium having needed to complete the marathon distance faster than 3:08:44 and also win the race to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris.

A hamstring injury looked to have put Boyce out of contention for a place in Paris having been unable to finish the World Team Championships in Turkey, but he was given another roll of the dice.

Boyce competed at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games over the 50km race walk, an event that has since been shelved.

A total of eight athletes have been selected for this weekend with Joe Mooney (Adamstown) also selected for the senior men’s 35k, while Kate Veale (West Waterford) and Aisling Lane (Mulling Harriers) chosen for the senior women’s 20k.

Read next: Donegal U13s aim for SFAI Inter-League glory

Farranfore Maine Valley man David Kenny and Matthew Glenn from Mullingar Harriers are set to go in the senior men’s 20k with Seamus Clarke (Moy Valley) and Matthew Newell (Tuam) ready to go under starter’s orders in the U20 men’s 10k.