Over the course of the summer, DCU Athletics left their mark down numerous avenues. Remarkable achievements across a series of tournaments, including the European Junior Championships, have provided a benchmark for the Athletics team to build upon this coming year.
Back in July, DCU student John Fitzsimons brought home bronze for the 800m at the European Junior Championships in Italy.
In the process, Fitzsimons set a new personal record, creating a pattern of record breaking showings by DCU athletes.
Education and Training student Liz Moreland smashed the national senior heptathlon record, placing in fifth, missing out on the medals by a whisker.
At the National Track and Field Senior Championships, DCU athletes hauled in 30 medals for their clubs, including six gold. While at the World Paralympics Games in London, Greta Streimikyte narrowly missed out on a podium finish by two seconds.
Despite setting a seasonal record in the 1500m, the international relations student was unable to match her bronze medal finish from the year before.
This summer of prosperity has provided DCU athletics with an auspicious platform from where they will look to carry their success into the coming year.
Despite the multiple triumphs of DCU Athletes over the summer, one person is hoping to put a frustrating few months past him.
400m sprinter Brendan Arrey was left disappointed at the European under-23s in Poland after receiving a setback in training.
“In the end I didn’t do as well as I expected because I was running through with an injury,” he said.
But Arrey’s focus is strictly about what’s in front of him now as he sets his sights on two major competitions.
“The next big goal is the world indoors in Birmingham and the European seniors in Berlin,” Arrey said.
“These will be a building block for Tokyo [Olympics]”
Speaking about the athletic set up this year, Arrey is expecting big things.
“I believe the set up is stronger because a lot more elite athletes are coming to DCU,” he said.
Christy Dunne
Image Credit: Andre Corvin/Sportsfile