Maeve Gallagher. Photo: Castlebar Cycling Club.

Mayo triathlete Maeve Gallagher making headlines in Austria

Talented Mayo triathlete Maeve Gallagher has been making headlines in Austria this weekend.

The 19-year-old star was selected on the national team for the Europe Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships in Kitzbühel, taking 22nd in the Under-23 title race and also competing very strongly against the elites.

According to a report on the website, Stickybottle.com, Gallagher was among a five-athlete Irish team, which also included fellow Under-23 triathlete Erin McConnell and elite Chloe Pollard.

The report continued: "The title races were run over the ‘super sprint’ distance, which involves 500 metre swim, 12km bike and 3km run.

"The elite and Under 23 women were in a combined field, with three heats taking place yesterday featuring 30 triathletes per heat.

"Those three heats were effectively qualifying for yesterday's ‘semi final A’ and ‘semi final B’. Gallagher and McConnell both finished 15th in their separate heats and qualified for the ‘B final’ , along with compatriot Pollard.

"That 15th place in her semi final for Gallagher on Friday meant she was 42nd in Europe of the full elite and Under23 combined field across the three semi finals.

"Gallagher, who races in the Irish peloton for Castlebar CC, then went on to place 12th in the ‘B final’ on Saturday.

"Her compatriot and fellow Under-23 McConnell was also in the ‘B final’ and placed 20th, while Irish elite athlete Pollard was 24th in the same race.

"When the Under-23 results were stripped out of the ‘A’ and ‘B’ finals today, Gallagher was 22nd in a time of 37:38 and compatriot McConnell was 29th in 38:18."

Maeve Gallagher is a former recipient of the Mayo Young Sports Star of the Year Award, presented by The Connaught Telegraph.