DeBues-Stafford stars at Belfast Irish Milers Meet

Canadian runner Gabriela DeBues-Stafford

Canada's two-time Olympian Gabriela DeBues-Stafford produced an outstanding performance at the Belfast Irish Milers Meet to win the women's 3,000m race in a time of 8:39.35.

DeBues-Stafford finished fifth in the 1500m final at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and holds six Canadian national outdoor and indoor records over distances ranging from 1500m to 5000m.

The 29-year-old was paced through the first 800m but then had to run on her own the rest of the way and looked full of energy in the closing stages as she opened a gap of almost 200 metres on the battle for second place.

Limerick athlete Ide Nic Dhomhnaill finished second in 9:12.63 after a close battle with Cork's Fiona Everand (9:13.38) at the Mary Peters Track.

DeBues-Stafford will now set her sights on making her third World Championships in Tokyo later this year hoping to better her finish of sixth in the 2019 1500m final in Doha.

The Belfast Irish Milers Meet is regarded as one of the best in Ireland but many of the regular visitors to the annual event were missing this year because of the clash with the World Relays in China.

However there were other notable performances.

Up and coming Welsh middle distance runner Justin Davies knocked over a second off his personal best in winning the men’s 800m.

The GB international, who recently won the event at the British Indoor championships, clocked an impressive 1:44.38.

In the women’s event there was also a personal best for winner Abigail Ives from Essex.

The previous best time for the 21 year-old of 1:59.92, came in the same race in 2023 and she broke the two-minute barrier again winning in 1:59.49.

Cork’s Darragh McElhinney won the men’s 1500m in 3:37.86 which was just 0.14 outside of his personal best.

Two-time Irish indoor champion, Katie Bergin, took the women’s 200m in 24.35 while Sale Harriers runner Tess McHugh set a new personal best of 52.62 in winning the women’s 400m.

Ireland qualify for world mixed relay final

The Irish team that qualified for the World Championships in the 400m mixed relay

A brilliant final leg from Sharlene Mawdsley helped Ireland qualify for the World Championships in Tokyo in August in the 4x400m mixed relay.

With two places available in the heats at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, the Irish quartet of Conor Kelly, Rhasidat Adeleke, Cillin Greene and Mawdsley finished second behind the USA.

Ireland, who took the bronze medal at these championships a year ago, were also the fourth fastest qualifiers for Sunday’s final.

The race quickly turned into a battle between the USA, Poland and Ireland with Kelly, Adeleke and Greene putting Mawdsley in a position to challenge for second place.

In the home straight she passed the experienced Polish runner Justyna Swiety-Ersetic and comfortably held on to claim second behind the United States.

Bangor’s Rachel McCann ran the third leg for Ireland in the women’s 4x400m relay heats. Along with Sophie Becker, Lauren Cadden and Phil Healy, the Irish were third behind South Africa and Germany.

Callum Baird from Antrim was the second leg runner for an Irish men’s 4x400m quartet that also included Chris O’Donnell, Marcus Lawler and Jack Raftery. They were sixth and last in their heat.

Both 4x400m squads will get a second opportunity to qualify for the World Championships on Sunday.