Tir Chonaill Athletic Club’s Kelly McGrory played a key role in a new national record for the Ireland 4x400m mixed relay team at the European Games in Minsk on Tuesday evening.
McGrory, along with team-mates Andrew Mellon, Sinead Denny and Luke Lennon Ford, ran 3:24.14 to win their heat. The Laghey girl ran the 3rd leg, recording a time of 54.4secs. The Irish time saw them finish fourth overall.
Team Ireland are taking part in a new competition format in international athletics – the Dynamic New Athletics (DNA) competition – at the European Games, where 24 countries of mixed-gender line-ups, face each other in six-way knockout matches over four rounds
McGrory’s fine run is a culmination of her development through the juvenile ranks of Tir Chonaill AC and the Abbey Vocational School in Donegal town. She is a former national age group. junior and National Senior 400m Hurdles champion.
The European Games, a new multi sport event, run from the 21st to 30th June in the Belarus capital, and has attracted over 4,000 athletes representing fifty countries in 15 sports.
Leitrim athlete Gerard O’Donnell from Carrick AC, who has strong family connections in the Ardara and Donegal Town areas, finished second in his heat of the 110 metres hurdles in 14>29 secs.
