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The Cork runner in action in Sweden. Athletics Ireland

McElhinney and Healy medal for Ireland at European U20 Championships

It was a good day on the track in Sweden.

LAST UPDATE | 21 Jul 2019

IRELAND’S DARAGH MCELHINNEY followed in the footsteps of John Treacy and Mark Carroll by winning a 5,000 metres medal at the European U20 Championships in Sweden this afternoon.

The Cork teenager produced a superb performance to finish third and claim bronze behind Aaron Las Heras of Spain and Turkey’s Ayetullah Aslanhan in 14.06.05.

McElhinney joins elite company in finishing on the 5,000m podium, after Treacy [silver in 1975] and Carroll [gold in 1991] did the same before him. 

Even still, the 18-year-old was unable to hide his disappointment in the immediate aftermath.

“Initially I was disappointed because I came here looking for gold,” he said. “It’s a bit of anti-climax because at the start of the season I wrote down goals and I wanted a European medal.

“I’ve achieved that, but the way the season panned out, and the form I have been in for the past few months, my aim was to win gold.”

Meanwhile, Sarah Healy, who won double European gold at U18 level last summer, claimed Ireland’s third medal of this championship with silver in the women’s 1,500 metres.

The teenager ran a brave race only to be caught on the home-straight by Swiss athlete Delia Sclabas, who claimed gold. 

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