Donegal athlete Erin Friel to link up with Florida State University in 2026

Erin Friel has committed to a scholarship move to Florida State University.

The Newtowncunningham teenager and Letterkenny AC sprinter was a European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) bronze medallist this year.

Next year, Friel will link up at FSU at the Tallahassee campus in Florida. The Seminoles competed in one of the power 4 Division 1 conferences, the ACC.

FSU said: “Erin will have everything she needs and more at one of the nation’s best schools for track and field and under the guidance of one of the best sprints coaches in the NCAA.

“Erin thoroughly deserves this opportunity because of the work she has put in over the last few years and the progress she made during this year's indoor and outdoor seasons leading to multiple PBs, national titles and international caps.”

Matt Kane is the FSU’s Director of Track and Field.

The Kathryn McDevitt-coached Friel clocked a new personal best, 54.02 seconds, in the EYOF 400m final to take third in Skopje, Macedonia.

Friel was also part of an Irish girls’ medley relay team which landed a new national recored, 2:07.06, to finish fourth in the final.

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The Loreto Secondary School student then ran in the European U20 Championships in Tampere, finishing sixth with the Irish women’s 4x400m team in their heat with Friel the fastest of the four in a 53.54-second split.