By Damian Lawlor in Rieti
First on track for the Irish here at the European U18 Championships were Lucie Cawley and Ally Duffy who competed in the heats of the 2000m Steeplechase. Of course with the soaring temperatures here in Italy heat was the operative word. Despite the races having been rescheduled to start an hour earlier when Lucie and Ally took starters orders at the Guidobaldi stadium in Rieti the temperature was already 26 degrees.
Lucie Cawley (Sligo A.C.) was first up in heat one and was confident of a good performance. She was even able to smile up to her family in the stands as she perished the starting line. She had every reason to be having lowered her personal best for the event from the 6:48.84 she ran in 2025 to 6:41.13 in May when she raced in Saint-Lo in France.
That time was a new national Under 18 record for the young Connacht athlete. Lucie also gained valuable experience racing at the European Youth Olympic Festival in North Macedonia last year and that experience stood to her here today as she exuded confidence from the start of the race.
Lucie was among the top five right from the starters pistol and as they eased through the early laps in 80 seconds she looked very comfortable. With a kilometre to go the leading five accelerated away from the pack. With seven to qualify for the final Lucie did not need to over exert herself and as she crossed the finish line was able to stop her watch nonchalantly. She made her time of 6:50.84 look pedestrian.
Having just celebrated her sixteenth birthday yesterday Ally Duffy (Tullamore Harriers) was one of the youngest athletes to line up in the heats of the 2000m Steeplechase but the Castledaly woman was up to the challenge.
Ally who had set her personal best for the distance of 6:45.00 in Busto Arsizio just outside Milan in early May was able to channel her excitement on returning to Italy for these championships.
Ally ran in a determined fashion and was in the lead group from the starters gun. Passing a kilometre in 3:25 she was in third place and hurdling well. With the first five well clear the pace stayed steady and there was no frantic sprint for the finish. Ally had eased through to the final in a time of 6:52.32.