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After the summits of the Under-18 European Championships, attention is quickly turning to the U-20 world championships that kicked off yesterday at Tampere in Finland. Among them is Ireland with a team of 19 people, of whom 12 are women.
Last year, Gina Akpe Moses of Dundalk, St Gerard, won a European U20 title and starts her campaign in the 100m events this morning. Semi-finals are tomorrow afternoon, with the final later in the evening.
Akpe-Moses may have triumphed at the European level last year, but on the current world rankings, you will march up to 22nd place before finding a non-American or Jamaican name.
At the top of the table is Twanisha Terry, from the United States, with a record of 10.99 this season. Her confrontation with Jamaican precocity Briana Williams, three years younger than her, at 16, is highly anticipated.
Akpe Moses, who trains with Birchfield Harriers in the UK, is ranked 23rd in the world for his time of 11.46 seconds over last May.
She will also line up in the 200m, with Friday's heats and semi-finals. For this event, Sydney McLaughlin of the United States, the current NCAA 400m hurdles champion, is leading with a time of 22.39 seconds. Ciara Neville of Emerald AC will also participate in the women's 100m and 200m.
Aaron Sexton of North Down, who ran a personal best of 21.12 seconds in Tullamore last month, will compete in the men's 200m.
Eric Harrison, of the United States, is the fastest on the field with a time of 20.39 seconds.
On paper, Ireland's best chance of getting a medal could happen at the women's high jump, with a qualification Friday.
Finn Valley's Sommer Lecky has a life record of 1.85m, and so far this year, has already exceeded 1.84m, which is enough to rank it in the top 10. At the top , the entrance is the Colombian Maria Fernanda Murillo who has a jump of 1.90m to his credit.
Starting Friday, the women's 100-meter hurdles, in which Molly Scott of St LOT represents Ireland after upgrading her personal best time to 13.72 seconds this season.
Niamh O 'Connor, of Celbridge AC, and Orla O' Connor, of Waterford AC, will participate in Saturday's 10 km walk.
A few hours later, in the men 's 5000m, Darragh McElhinney, 17, of Bantry AC, faces formidable opposition from the best in East Africa, along with Ethiopian Selemon Barega, champion of two years ago. Last month, Barga won the 5000m at the Stockholm Diamond League with a time of 13: 04.05. McElhinney ran a personal best 14: 11.80 at Oordegem last May
The Irish campaign ends with 4x100m relays on Saturday afternoon. The Irish women's team includes Akpe Moses and Scott with Ciara Neville, Lauren Roy of City of Lisburn, St Gerard's Jumbo Gula Patience and Rhasidat Adeleke of Tallaght, fresh out of his 200-meter gold at the U18 European Championships.
Sexton leads a 4 x 100m men's team that includes Leevale A's Coror Morey, Galway's Jack Dempsey, David McDonald's Menapians AC Reality Osuoha of Fingallians AC and Israel Olatunde of Dundealgan AC.
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