Mayo athlete makes Ireland selection for World Race Walking Team Championships

Moy Valley AC's Seamus Clarke is one of five athletes set to compete at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Turkey on Sunday (April 21).

Joining Seamus among the 400 athletes taking to the start line in Antalya will be his Irish team-mates Brendan Boyce, Kate Veale, Oisin Lane and Joe Mooney.

All races will take place on a 2km loop course located close to the Antalya Expo Centre, with the start and finish area in front of the Expo 2016 Botanical Park.

This competition is given added significance in 2024 as it will be the first championships to stage the Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay and will serve as the primary qualification opportunity in that event ahead of this summer's Paris Olympics.

The first 22 teams at the World Race Walk Team Championships Antalya 2024 will automatically qualify for the Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay event at the Olympic Games in Paris. Up to five of the first 22 teams can be a second team of the same country.

Finn Valley's Brendan Boyce and West Waterford's Kate Veale will spear-head Ireland's challenge for qualification in this event having partnered to achieve a 3:11:48 performance in Raheny on December 17 last.

Seamus, a native of Ballina, competes in the Under 20 10km having recently set a personal best (PB) of 45:03 in Dudince on March 16, and will have one eye on qualification for this summer's World Under 20 Championships, which take place in Lima, Peru, during August.

Oisin Lane of Mullingar Harriers AC will take to the men’s 20km and will be looking to further his reputation at senior international level as he bids to improve upon his recent 1:24:13 PB set late last year. Joe Mooney, Adamstown AC, will also compete in men’s 20km on the back of his impressive PB of 1:24:38 in Podebrady earlier this month.