Sophie Becker and Darragh McElhinney among Irish athletes to receive invitation for World Championships

Michael Bolton

Sophie Becker (400m), Darragh McElhinney (5000m), Laura Nicholson (1500m) and Efrem Gidey (10,000m) have been added to Ireland's squad for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Becker was already included in the women's 4x400m relay, and the mixed 4x400m relay, and will now be part of the individual 400m.

After a difficult start to the season, Becker won the 400m at the National championships in August.

McElhinney was just one spot shy of the 42-man quota in the men’s 5000m last week, but after other withdrawals he will now make his World Championships debut in Tokyo. He narrowly missed the Irish record when clocking 13:02.06 in Oordegem, Belgium, last month.

Gidey will make his World Championships debut in the 10,000m. The 24-year-old Clonliffe Harrier was 32nd on the rankings list last week, with 27 spots available, but earned a spot after several in front of him declined their place.

Nickolson has been rewarded for her breakout season after winning the nationals last month, with her best time coming in April at 4:07.17.

This bring the number of Irish athletes competing in the games to 28.

Ireland's best hopes of medals will be through multi-event star Kate O’Connor, who has had an excellent 2025.

Sarah Healy will hope to continue her good form in the 1500m, while Mark English will also be optomistic of his chances in the 800m.

Rhasidat Adeleke will miss out on the games as her season has ended due to injury.

Irish team for World Athletics Championships:

Sarah Healy (Women’s 1500m)Laura Nicholson (Women’s 1500m)

Mark English (Men’s 800m)

Sarah Lavin (Women’s 100m Hurdles)

Sophie O’Sullivan (Women’s 1500m)

Laura Nicholson

Sharlene Mawdsley (Women’s 400m, Mixed 4x400m Relay & Women’s 4x400m Relay)

Cathal Doyle (Men’s 1500m)

Cian McPhillips (Men’s 800m)

Andrew Coscoran (Men’s 1,500m & 5,000m)

Kate O’Connor (Women’s Heptathlon)

Nicola Tuthill (Women’s Hammer Throw)

Brian Fay (Men’s 5,000m)

Darragh McElhinney (Men’s 5,000m)

Efrem Gidey (Men’s 10,000m)

David Kenny (Men’s 20km Race Walk)

Oisin Lane (Men’s 35km Race Walk)

Eric Favors (Men’s Shot Put)

Fionnuala McCormack (Women’s Marathon)

Hiko Tonosa (Men’s Marathon)

Peter Lynch (Men’s Marathon)

Sophie Becker (Women’s 400m, Mixed 4x400m Relay & Women’s 4x400m Relay)

Rachel McCann (Mixed 4x400m Relay & Women’s 4x400m Relay)

Jack Raftery (Mixed 4x400m Relay)

Conor Kelly (ixed 4x400m Relay)

Cillín Greene (Mixed 4x400m Relay)

Cliodhna Manning (Women’s 4x400m Relay)

Michelle Duggan (Women’s 4x400m Relay)

Jenna Breen (Women’s 4x400m Relay)

*Erin Friel (Women’s 4x400m Relay – Non travelling reserve)

*Ciaran Carthy (Mixed 4x400m Relay – Non travelling reserve)