Race against the clock for the future Irish sprinter Leon Reid

IT is a race against the clock for sprinter Leon Reid, who was provisionally named yesterday in the Irish team of 41 players to participate in the European Championships in Athletics that will start the week next to Berlin.

The Bath athlete received news last Friday that the IAAF was lifting the embargo on transfers between national federations imposed in March of last year.

Reid had represented Great Britain in the junior and under 23 years winning medals at the European level before deciding to change allegiance in Ireland, qualifying on the basis of his Belfast-born mother.

Although Reid's transfer was one of the first affected by the transfer freeze, he was still eligible to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, winning a medal of bronze in the 200m.

However, this led him to stay in international limbo for nearly 18 months and meant that he had missed the London World Championships last year and at the same time. interior in Birmingham last March.

Reid will now be allowed to make this change under the new IAAF rules and he confirmed after Sunday's national championships that the documents had already been shipped by Athletics Ireland.

But it is unclear whether the paperwork will be handled on time by the IAAF to allow the Menapien athlete to debut in a vest from Ireland to Euros which are now only seven

In the possible absence of Reid Thomas Barr and Ciara Mageean seems to be the main medal hope of Ireland in what is probably the biggest team of these championships.

Thomas Barr impressed Sunday at the Nationals by winning his eighth consecutive title in the 400m hurdles. The Waterford is currently ranked fifth after its 48.99 seconds at the last Mueller Games in London

Ciara Mageean is named in the 1500m after winning that distance in the championships where she also raised the 800m crown. The Portaferry woman seemed to be back to her while controlling the two races that took place in the space of 75 minutes.

Mageean is currently ranked eighth in Europe, but at least two of his fastest can not compete in the German capital, leaving the road open to the UCD AC to regain the podium spot that's on. she acquired two years ago in Amsterdam. The following athletes have been selected to participate in the Athletics European Championships in Berlin from August 6th to 12th (Ulster athletes in bold)

Women

Phil Healy (AC Bandon) 100m and 200m, Gina Akpe-Moses (Blackrock AC -Louth) 100m, Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (DSD AC) 800m, Claire Mooney (UCD AC) 800m, Ciara Mageean (UCD AC) 1500m, Emma Mitchell (Queens University AC ) 10,000m, Kerry O 'Flaherty (Newcastle and District AC) 3000m steeplechase, Michelle Finn (Leevale AC) 3000m steeplechase, Breege Connolly marathon (City of Derry), Gladys Ganiel marathon (North Belfast Harriers AC), Laura marathon Graham (Morne Runners AC), Lizzie Lee (Leevale AC), [19659002] 4x100m relay panel: Phil Healy (AC Band), Gina Akpe-Moses (Blackrock-Louth), Ciara Neville (AC Emerald), Joan Healy (AC Bandon ), Niamh Whelan (AC Ferrybank), Molly Scott (SLOT AC)

4x400m Relay: Davicia Patterson (AC Beechmount Harriers), Claire Mooney (AC UCD), Sophie Becker (St. Joseph AC), Sinead Denny (DSD AC), Ciara Deely (AC KCH), Catherine McManus (AC DCH)

Men

Marcus Lawler (AC SLOT) 200m, Chris O Donnell (North Sligo AC) 400m, Zak Curran (DSD AC) 800m, English Mark (UCD AC) 800m, Stephen Scullion (Clonliffe Hrs) 10,000m, Ben Reynolds (North Down AC) 110m hurdles, Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC) 400m hurdles, Adam McMullen (Crusaders AC) Long jump, Cian McManamon (Westport AC) 20km, Alex Wright (Leevale AC) 20km, Brendan Boyce (Finn Valley AC) 50km, Marathon Sergiu Ciobanu (AC Clonliffe Harriers), Marathon Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock AC), Sean Hehir Marathon (Rathfarnham WSAF AC), Paul Pollock marathon (Annadale Striders AC), marathon Kevin Seaward (St Malachy AC),

4x400m relay: Chris O Donnell (North Sligo AC), Brandon Arrey ( Raheny Shamrock AC), Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC), Craig Newell (Ballymena and Antrim AC), Andrew Mellon (AC Crusaders), Dara Kervick (DSD AC)