World Athletics Indoor Championships: Kate O’Connor headlines Ireland team in Polandn

World silver medallist Kate O’Connor and Irish national champion Nick Griggs have been named in Ireland’s team for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.

O’Connor won Ireland’s first medal at the championships since 2006 in Nanjing last year when she finished second in the pentathlon.

The 25-year-old then followed that up with a stunning second-place finish in the heptathlon at the World Championships in Tokyo in September.

In a historic year, O’Connor won a gold medal at the University Games and claimed bronze at the European Indoor Championships.

Nick Griggs, who won the Irish senior title earlier in March, will race in the 15-strong 3,000m final alongside Andrew Coscoran.

Five-time European medallist Mark English is also a leading name for the Irish team when he races in the 800m at the event in Torun, which runs from 20-22 March.

Paul McNamara, Athletics Ireland’s high performance director, said it was “an exciting team with real prospects for medal success”.

“Kate’s achievement in Nanjing last year has set a bar for what Irish athletes can achieve at these championships, and we travel to Poland with real intent,” he said.

“Along with our seasoned performers it’s great to see emerging talent make an impact this season and earn the opportunity to compete against the best in the world.”

Sarah Lavin will enter the Women’s 60m hurdles, while Bori Akinola and Lauren Roy will race in the men’s and women’s 60m respectively.

Maeve O’Neill will make her senior Irish international debut in Poland in the women’s 800m, while Ciara Neville (Women’s 60m), Emma Moore (Women’s 800m), James Gormley (Men’s 1500m) and Elizabeth Ndudi (Women’s Long Jump) have achieved the ‘B’ Standard and are provisionally selected pending confirmation of their qualification status by World Athletics.