Javelin success for Mayo's Oisín Joyce in European finals

THE European Under 18 Athletics Championships were held in Jerusalem from July 4 to 7.

This was the third edition of the biennial continental athletics competition for European athletes aged from 15 to 17. A total of 957 athletes from 48 nations competed.

One of the athletes was Oisín Joyce of Lake District AC, who threw the javelin 69:66m – a new Irish Under 18 record.

For his efforts Oisín finished fourth in the event. This brilliant achievement moved him from 26th to seventh place on the Irish all-time list.

His Lake District AC club-mate Conor Cusack is the Under 20 national record holder and fifth on the all-time list.

The winner of the javelin event in Jerusalem was 15-year-old Topi Parviainen, Finland, with a massive new EU Under 18 record throw of 84:52 in the fifth round.

Javelin-crazy Finland has a long and proud record in the sport. Topi's uncle Aki Parviainen won gold in the world javelin championships in 1999 and silver in 2001. He finished fifth in the Sydney Olympics and is fourth on the world all-time list with 93:09.

Ireland's only medal winner among a 20-strong team in Jerusalem was Fintan Dewhirst, who won silver in the 400m hurdles. The Tír Chonaill AC athlete produced a stunning breakthrough in the final to obliterate the Irish Under 18 record, clocking 51.65.