A 30 year Irish sporting record has been smashed by young Midland athlete Lorcán Ó Catháin. Competing in the 200m final of the European Youth Olympics Festival (EYOF ) in Finland last week, Lorcán knocked eight-hundredths of a second off the previous national record which was set in 1979 by Liam McDermott.
This latest achievement capped a hugely successful week for the Kiltoom man, who beat his own personal best time twice, as well as coming in fifth place against a very competitive international field. Lorcán’s time of 21.79 secs in the 200m final was more than a quarter of a second inside his own qualifying time in the heat.
Liam McDermott’s 30-year-old record of 21.87 was equalled twice in 1983 and 1986, but that mantle has now passed to one of the most promising young athletes in the country.
Already this year, the 17-year-old Marist student achieved gold, silver, and bronze medals in the under-18 200m, 60m, and 400m races at the Woodie’s DIY/AAI Juvenile Indoor Championships. Earlier in spring Lorcán won three gold medals at the Connaught Indoor Championships in the 60m, 200m, and 400m races.
