Another huge year beckons for Ireland's track stars

Despite two near misses for Olympic podium spots in 2024, it was a record year for athletics in Ireland.

While the Olympics were the spectacle for athletics globally, Ireland announced themselves as a force to be reckoned with at the World Relays in May, and backed this up with their best team performance ever at a European Championship.

As Ireland's top athletics stars start to compete for the first time in 2025, what can we expect from the athletes that captured the nation in Paris?

First on the calendar is a choice of two indoor championships in March, as the 2020 World edition, cancelled due to covid, has been rescheduled for this year.

Nanjing in China, will finally get its moment to host, but so far details have been scant. The more accessible venue, of Apeldoorn in the Netherlands, will host the European Indoor Championships for four days from 6 March. It is likely that many European athletes will forgo the long-haul flight to China and stick with the event closer to home, which could make it more luractive.

Ireland's highest ranked athlete from 2024, Rhasidat Adeleke chose a short indoor season last year and looks set to repeat the pattern, confirmed by her recent comments that all focus will be on Tokyo.

The long 2024 calendar meant a later start to winter conditioning that could put some athletes behind in their preparation for the 'short track' season.

Expect to see Adeleke lining out for at least a few stretches of the legs in the indoor season, such are the obligations of sponsored athletes, with maybe less focus on the shorter distances as she is now fully focused on the longest sprint. The only and late outdoor championship of the year in Tokyo in September is her focus, where claiming a global medal would be the