Claire McCarthy selected to represent Ireland at the 2017 World Championships

Athletics Ireland announced today the Irish teams for the 50km walk and the marathon in the World Athletic Championships which will be held in London in August. Included in the women's team is Claire McCarthy of Leevale AC. The Cork athlete won the 2017 Ballintotis 4 mile road race which was held last week

Men's 50km Walks... Alex Wright Leevale AC, Brendan Boyce Letterkenny AC, Robert Heffernan Togher AC

Men's Marathon... Mick Clohisey Raheny Shamrocks AC, Paul Pollock Annadale Striders AC. Sean Hehir Rathfarnham WSAF AC

Women's Marathon... Fionnuala McCormack Kilcoole AC, Clare Gibbons McCarthy Leevale AC

The World Championships will take place in London from 4-13 August 2017.

London selected to host 2017 IAAF World Championships

 In Monaco last Friday, London was selected over Doha, Qatar, for the right to host the 16th edition of the IAAF World Championships. The English capital, which failed with bids to host the 2001 and 2015 Worlds, will use the 2012 Olympic Stadium. Bid leader Sebastian Coe said: "This bid has been developed by athletes and athletics, for athletes and athletics."

LONDON BID KEY POINTS
The Olympic Stadium (capacity 60,000) has been built and the running track is part of its 99-year lease
The proposed date of late July or early August avoids clashes with European and American football
The stadium is likely to be sold out for every session
London's cultural diversity

The London bid revealed that the budget for the championships would now cover the £5m prize fund as Doha offered to do. In te end, the vote was 16 to 10.

Considering that the 2013 edition will be hosted by Moscow, Russia (10 - 18 August 2013), followed by Beijing, China in 2015 (22 - 30 August 2015), the 2017 games are literally on our doorstep. Certainly for any Irish athletes, it will mean a lot less travelling.