Dewhirst selected in the Irish hurdles and relay team for World U-20 championship

Tir Chonaill AC’s Fintan Dewhirst will lead Ireland’s 400m hurdles team at the upcoming World U-20 Championships as well as running on the relay team. 

Athletics Ireland has named the Glenties man among an exciting team for the showcase which will take place in Peru from August 27 to August 31. 

Dewhirst, a 2022 European U-18 silver medallist, will represent Ireland in the 400m hurdles alongside David Davitt of Clonliffe Harriers, with both athletes also selected for relay teams.

The team features two field event athletes ranked in the top six: Elizabeth Ndudi, third in long jump, and Oisin Joyce, sixth in javelin. Additionally, Irish relay teams will compete in the mixed 4x400m and men’s 4x400m events.

Dewhirst delivered a remarkable performance to win gold in the U-20 Men’s 400m Hurdles, breaking a long-standing championship record.

In 1997, David Keoghan of Dublin City Harriers set the record with a time of 53.39 seconds. This record stood for 27 years until Glenties native Dewhirst ran an impressive 51.54 seconds to claim gold at the National U-20 & U-23 Track and Field Championships in Tullamore on Saturday.

The 18-year-old’s winning time was over three seconds faster than Alex Cullen of Kilkenny City Harriers, who won silver with 54.82 seconds, and Eoghan MacMuiris of Dundrum South Dublin, who took bronze with 54.94 seconds.