St Gerard’s Silkena and O’Connor selected by Team Ireland Geraldine continues to smash records on the world stage

DUnDALk athlete Geraldine Finegan has returned triumphant from the World Tetra Decathlon event in Turnhout, Belgium and can now lay claim to being one of the fittest women in the world after dominating the Ultra Multi- event World Championships.

Geraldine (58), originally from Church Street in Dundalk, represented Ireland at the meeting and competed against athletes from all over the world including Canada, Finland South Africa and all over europe.

DUnDALk St Gerard’s AC were this week delighted and proud to share the news that not just one, but TWO of its club athletes have been selected for the Ireland Team that will compete at the european Youth Olympic Festival (eYOF) later this month. Both enya Silkena and Tara O’Connor secured selection, based on reaching the qualifying standard in their respective events. Silkena will represent her country in the Heptathlon, while O’Connor will compete in the High Jump.

The Dundalk duo were among the forty-two athletes named by the Olympic Federation of Ireland, who will compete across five sports. The eYOF is a prestigious event that plays an important role in the overall development of athletes, as it mimics the

Olympic Games model, preparing athletes for the nuances of performing in a multi-sport environment. This year’s event will see forty-eight countries across europe participate in the event, with approximately 3,600 athletes competing.

The eYOF is the largest european multi-sport event for young athletes between the ages of 14 and 17 and generally occurs every two years. This year it takes place in Maribor, Slovenia and will run from the 23–29 of July. Of the 42 athletes selected, 22 of those were selected for Athletics. To have just one athlete from a local club meet the standard for selection would be incredible, but to have two is just extraordinary.

O’Connor and Silkena have put in enormous efforts honing their craft over several years, achieving many successes on the County, Provincial, All Ireland and International stages along the way. Between them, they have broken and hold multiple juvenile athletics records. This latest achievement is a testament to their dedication and commitment to their sport. Their selection is very well deserved and is sure to provide them both with hugely valuable experience at another level, where they will battle it out with the best in europe. After a first taste of major multisport competition at the eYOF, many athletes have gone on to compete in the european Games and Olympic Games. The Irish team departs for Maribor on the 21st of July with competition starting on the 24th of July.

The women took part in 14 different track and field events over two days to find the fittest women in the world.

The opening day of the meeting saw temperatures soar to 33 degrees with competition taking place between 10 am and 6.20 pm daily. On Saturday 8th July the event began with Geraldine’s favourite event, the 100m hurdles, and the Dundalk athlete got off to a flyer by claiming the highest score of 1003 points.

This was the highest and best event from all the ages from 24 to 74yrs olds that were competing. The high jump was next which saw the north-east runner come first again earning her the highest point score of 955 points. The shot putt, 1500m, 400m hurdles and 200m all followed one after another.

Geraldine won gold in every event leading the first day on 4903 points leading all but a Belgian 24year old close on 4088 points after day one.

Day two started warm and sunny with the 100m sprint then long jump 400 m and the javelin throw. A new world age record broke in this event by two metres put Geraldine way ahead of her closest rival from Belgium, Gerda Andries.

This meant running the 800, 200m hurdles, discus and 3000m in cooler weather but a drenched track and Irish kit soaking wet. Full focus needed and two more