Athletics Ireland – News – Dan Mulhare added to Irish Team for European Indoor Athletics Championships

25 year old Mulhare will compete in the heats of the 3000m meter event on Friday March 4th next.

Dan Mulhare (North Laois AC) comfortably won the Irish Indoor 3000m title at The Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Sunday February 19th in a time of 8:05:23. Yesterday, he continued his excellent form by winning the Scottish Indoor 3000m Championships at The Kelvin Hall in a new personal best time of 8:01:00. This winter Mulhare has been in good form over the cross-country and competed for Ireland in the senior men’s race in last December’s European Cross Country Championships in Portugal.

The Waterford Institute of Technology Civil Engineering graduate, now based in Edinburgh, claimed the silver medal over 1500m at last summer’s Irish Track & Field Championships in time of 3:48:76.

Ray Flynn of Athletics Ireland said:

“Dan Mulhare is the National 3000m Indoor Champion for 2011 and has made significant progress as a developing athlete recently. This is an ideal opportunity to blood him in a major championship as Dan hasn’t been exposed to one before and the experience will no doubt develop him further in the future.”

Mulhare’s addition to the Irish Team for Paris brings the Irish Team number to nine.

The Irish Team for the 31st European Athletics Indoor Championships is:

Derval O’Rourke (Leevale AC) – 60m Hurdles (SB – 8:03 – 8th fastest in Europe this year)

Ailis McSweeney (Leevale AC) – 60m (SB – 7:32 – 24th fastest in Europe this year)

Mary Cullen (North Sligo AC) – 3000m (SB – 8:53:01 – 8th fastest in Europe this year)

Tori Pena (Finn Valley AC) – Pole Vault (SB – 4m 30 – Irish Record – European top 20 this year)

Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC) – Long Jump (SB – 6:44 – 30th best jump in Europe this year)

Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC) – 400m (SB – 46:82 – 11th fastest in Europe this year)

Darren McBrearty (Letterkenny AC) – 800m (SB – 1:47:87 – 14th fastest in Europe this year)

Marian Heffernan (Togher AC) – 400m (SB – 54:00 – European top 30 time)

Dan Mulhare (North Laois AC) – 3000m (SB – 8:01:00 – European top 40 time)

(SB = Season’s Best Time).

The Irish Team is due to depart for Paris from Dublin Airport at 12:30pm Wednesday next, February 2nd.

Timetable of Events (Irish Time)