Kanturk’s flying Finn ready to take on the world in Doha

CASTLEMAGNER’S Michelle Finn takes her place in the World Athletics Championships in Doha, the first Irish participant into action on this Friday (5pm) in the opening heats to the Ladies 3,000 metres. Steeplechase.

The Leevale athlete is no stranger to success having been part of the Irish women’s team who won the bronze medal at the European Cross Country in Bulgaria in 2014.

For the current Qatar staging, Finn is part of a small eight member Irish team and heads to the World Championship after a training stint in Spain.

Finn is a PE and Irish teacher but took a decision in late 2018 to concentrate full time on athletics. So far so good for the former US scholarship recipient at Western Kentucky on posting PB on two occasions and hoping to break the 9.40 target in Doha.

“To go full time allows me to give it everything, perform at my best in Doha and ahead of hopefully competing in the Tokoyo Olympics next year,” she said.

Hardly surprising in temperatures expected to be in the high 30 Degrees Celcius, the demanding 3,000 metres steeplechase is a challenge over more than seven laps and jumping thirty five barriers where speed, stamina and technique are key assets.

“You‘ve to be focused or risk falling on one of those barriers, the technique is so important and in every race, you get a little bit better in the jumping and hurdling,” said the Cork star.

To date this year Finn has enjoyed training camps in South Africa and Spain, that’s sure to benefit the Duhallow native in the hot cauldron of Doha.

Joining Finn in the World championships are Thomas Barr (400m hurdles), Brendan Boyce (50k walk), Mark English (800m), Phil Healy (200m), Ciara Mageen (1,500m), Alex Wright (20k walk) and Stephen Scullion (marathon).