Kelly McGrory gets her reward with 4x400m selection for European Championships

Kelly McGrory has been rewarded for a recent spike in times with selection for

the European Athletics Championships.

The Tir Chonaill AC woman has been chosen in the women's 4x400m squad for the Championships in Rome with Finn Valley AC's four-time European medallist Mark English also selected.

McGrory has twice broken the Donegal 400m record in recent weeks. At the weekend, the Laghey woman took the time into 52-second territory for the first time, clocking 52.62 seconds at the IFAM Outdoor meet in Brussels.

At the King Baudouin Stadium, McGrory signalled her intent having gone 53.76 seconds in Italy.

The weekend's time is the third fastest by an Irish woman over 400m this year. Only Sharlene Mawdsley (51.09) and Sophie Becker (51.83) have gone quicker in 2024 so far.

Multiple national record holder, Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC), will spearhead a strong looking Irish challenge in the women’s 400m alongside the in-form pair Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) and Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock), with all three also selected in exciting 400m relays squads.

McGrory, Phil Healy and Lauren Cadden are also part of the six-woman squad.

Last year at the World Championships, McGrory joined Sophie Becker, Roisin Harrison and Sharlene Mawdsley to finish eighth in 3:27.08 at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest.

It remains to be seen who will go under starter's orders in Rome, but the Laghey woman is now firmly in the shake-up for another major Championships.

English, who has won two European outdoor bronze medals, goes in the 800m.

The Letterkenny native won the 800m at the IX Memorial José Antonio Cansino meeting in Castellón last week, going 1:45.85, a new season's best, to win.

English will be aiming to get into the mix with the continent's best in Rome, with the Championships taking place from June 7-12.

“While the primary focus in 2024 firmly remains the Paris Olympic Games, the European Championships is a key event for us and one where we intend to further enhance our growing reputation as a nation at major championships, and make a statement of our performance intent,” Athletics Ireland's Director of High Performance Paul McNamara said.

Finn Valley AC's Roisin Flanagan could yet be confirmed for the 5000m, although the US-based athlete has been inhibited by injury of late.