Eugenia Bateson reports: Tonight, in the Morton Stadium at the Dublin Juvenile Championships Matei Ursachi achieved the 2024 Standard for the European U18 Championships. The performance standard of 6.05 was smashed by Matei with his time of 6.01.36.
In a combined race of U17/U18 and U19 2K Steeplechase, Matei set off from the gun to achieve this standard. Matei and training partner Tom Breslin took off and dominated the race with some impressive jumps. Matei cleared the water jump on more than one occasion without a splash of water. Tom possibly lost some valuable seconds in his own race with the excitement when it was clear that Matei was going to produce the standard with his arms cheering Matei on as Matei broke away to make this race truly his own. Matei had great support at each curve of the track and did not disappoint.
Matei now has the nervous wait to see if he will be selected for the European U18 Championships which will be held in Slovakia in July.
Well worth a mention was Tadgh Cowley who finished 2nd in the U17 Race, Tom Breslin took the U19 title and of course Matei took the U18 title.