Preview: Irish athletes in Glasgow for World Athletics Indoor Championships

Irish athletes have arrived in Scotland ahead of the World Athletics Championships which start at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on Friday.

The championships welcome a star-studded entry list which contains 20 reigning world champions and seven gold medallists from the Tokyo Olympics.

Leading out the Irish on Friday, will be Sharlene Mawdsley from Newport AC in Tipperary, who was one of Ireland's standout performers at last year’s world championships in Budapest.

Mawdsley goes into the 400m ranked 13th based on her season’s best and will very much have sights set on progressing to the evening’s semi-final. World record-holder Femke Bol heads a stacked 400m field which will likely result in Mawdsley having to threaten her PB of 51.91 to progress.

Mawdsley also looks set to play a leading role on the women’s 4x400m relay team who will take to the heats on Sunday morning with eyes once again set on making another global final.

Another huge showing can be expected from the team of Mawdsley, Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC), Phil Healy (Bandon AC), Roisin Harrison (Emerald AC), Rachel McCann (North Down AC), and Lauren Cadden (Sligo AC). The final is set for 8.30pm on Sunday.

Tallaght AC's Israel Olatunde will take to the blocks in the opening session on Friday, with the three-time national 60m champion taking to another major championship in the heats of the 60m from 1.10pm.

The 2022 European 100m finalist has raced sparingly this season with Olatunde proven at saving his best for championship racing. Ranked outside the top 30 on his season’s best, it’s likely Olatunde will need a mid 6.6secs to make the evening’s semi-final.

Sarah Healy (UCD AC) will lead out Ireland in tomorrow’s evening session as she takes to the heats of the