Turkish delight! Kilkenny star Cliodhna Manning in Irish squad for Euro Indoors in Istanbul

Cliodhna Manning will fly the Kilkenny flag in Turkey when a team of Irish athletes go chasing international glory.

The Kilkenny City Harriers runner was included on the team announced by Athletics Ireland to compete at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Istanbul from March 2 to 5.

Manning has been included to compete in the 400m individual event and as part of the 4x400m team. The selection also includes Newport AC's Sharlene Mawdsley and Miriam Daly from Carrick-on-Suir AC. The women's 4x400m relay team is included as one of only six qualifying nations and will compete in a straight final.

The Irish team includes twice European Indoor 800m medallist Mark English, World Indoor 60m Hurdles finalist Sarah Lavin, Commonwealth Games Hepathlon medallist Kate O'Connor and recent national 60m record breaker Israel Olatunde. 

Athletes may yet be added to this team should an eligible athlete move into a qualifying spot on the 'Road to Istanbul'.

The team is: 
Molly Scott (St. L. O'Toole AC), 60m*
Joan Healy (Leevale AC), 60m
Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC), 60mH
Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), 400m & 4x400m
Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC), 400m & 4x400m
Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers), 400m & 4x400m
Kate O'Connor (Dundalk St Gerard's), Pentathlon
Phil Healy (Bandon AC), 4x400m
Miriam Daly (Carrick-on-Suir AC), 4x400m
Niamh Murray (Bray Runners), 4x400m
Israel Olatunde (UCD AC), 60m
Mark English (UCD AC), 800m
John Fitzsimons (Kildare AC), 800m
Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC), 1500m
Luke McCann (UCD AC), 1500m
Darragh McElhinney (UCD AC), 3000m

* Pending proof of fitness