UCD track star Luke McCann claims 1000m national record ahead of European Championships

Posted 11 August, 2022

UCD Ad Astra track star Luke McCann has claimed a new national record of 2:16.40 for the 1000m, beating the Irish outdoor record which had stood since 1996.

During a meet at the Monaco Diamond League the Dubliner broke the previous outdoor record of 2:17.58 set by Olympian David Matthews 26 years ago while finishing in seventh-place.

The new time also beats McCann's latest indoor national 1,000m record of 2:17.40 from February, which he earned while competing in the US.

The new national recorded comes ahead of the European Championships beginning next week in Munich.

McCann is one of four UCD Ad Astra athletes among the 38 competitors selected to represent Ireland at the European Championships.

He will be competing in the 1500m, and will be joined in Munich by follow UCD Ad Astra Elite scholars Sarah Healy, Darragh McElhinney, and Israel Olatunde.

The largest cohort of athletes that Ireland has ever sent to a major championship, the team of seasoned campaigners and rising stars will be spearheaded by previous European championship medal winners Ciara Mageean and Mark English, both former recipients of Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholarship Programme during their time at University College Dublin.

By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations