Lifford Strabane AC's Finn O'Neill off to US for scholarship with Rhasidat Adeleke

Multi-eventer Finn O'Neill from Lifford Strabane AC has gone to the United States to begin an athletics sports scholarship.

The Faughanvale, Co Derry, native will join up with sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke at the University of Texas San Antonio. Adeleke claimed two fourth-place finishes at the Olympic Games in Paris, in the 400m and then as part of Team Ireland’s Women’s 4x400m Relay team.

“With Adeleke close to an Olympic medal a few short weeks ago, it puts O'Neill's calibre and high standing into context that he has been signed up by the UTSA squad for the coming year,” Lifford Strabane AC posted on their social channels.

“While Finn has shown excellence across a number of individual events as a runner, thrower and jumper, it is the combination of all these athletic disciplines as a multi-eventer that Finn has really excelled.

“In 2022, Finn was part of the Irish team that competed at the European U18 championships in Jerusalem where an injury on the first day cut short his competition. Selection for and competing at the Europeans was the culmination of a great year for the Lifford Strabane athlete where he captained the Irish schools team at the Schools International in Belfast and went on to break the Irish U18 Decathlon record with 6,838 points.

“Finn continued his record-breaking form in 2024 where he holds records at Donegal, Ulster and All Ireland level and in January smashed a 20 year old Indoor Championship Pentathlon record in Dublin with 4,908 points.

“Finn's path to success is a testament to his own dedication and commitment to the sport, but also an example of the importance of having excellent backing both by coaches and his parents Shane and Samantha. Finn is also an example to other young athletes of what can be achieved with the right attitude and dedication to the sport.

“As Finn jets off this morning on the next phase of his athletics journey, everyone at the club would like to extend its best wishes and hope that he will continue to excel and set new highs. Finn's trajectory in recent years has seen him don the Irish vest on several occasions and who knows, maybe this next phase of his journey will see him join Adeleke on an even bigger stage. Best Wishes Finn.”