Mark English, Kelly McGrory and Fintan Dewhirst in line for national awards

Mark English, Kelly McGrory and Fintan Dewhirst are among the nominees for the 2024 National Athletics Awards.

Tir Chonaill AC’s Dewhirst is among the U20 Athlete of the Year nominees alongside Oisin Joyce, Elizabeth Ndudi and Thomas Williams.

The Middle Distance Athlete of the Year nominees includes Finn Valley AC athlete English as well as Cathal Doyle, Sarah Healy and Ciara Mageean.

The women’s 4x400m relay team, of which Tir Chonaill AC’s McGrory was a part, is in the Team of the Year nominees.

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English reached the semi-finals of the men’s 800m at the Olympic Games in Paris.

English came through a heat in 1:45.15, but an adductor injury hit on the home straight after he worked himself into a super position in the semi.

Twice in the space of four days in June, English lowered the Irish 800m record. First, English went 1:44.69 in Turku in Finland before going 1:44.53 at Meeting Madrid.

English set new personal bests over 800m, 600m and 400m in 2024.

McGrory ran the semi-final in the women’s 4x400m relay at the Olympics, but did not run the final after Rhasidat Adeleke was drafted in.

Laghey woman McGrory helped the Irish team to third place in their semi-final on Friday morning. McGrory ran the third leg with Sophie Becker, Phil Healy and Sharlene Mawdsley to guarantee direct passage to the final, where the Irish quartet were inches from a medal, clocking an astonishing national record of 3:19.90, obliterating the previous national record of 3:22.71.

Dewhirst was a 400m hurdles semi-finalist at the World U20 Championships.

The Glenties native and Tír Chonaill AC athlete crossed the line in fifth place in 51.65s with Spain’s Joaquin Alonso taking fourth in a time of 50.22 and, in the process, taking a a qualification berth.