National Athletics Awards crown Cian McPhillips Track Athlete of the Year
27 November 2025
Cian McPhillips produced a new national record with a time of 1:42.15 when he finished in fourth place in the 800m final at the World Athletics Championships Credit: Sportsfile
UCD Athletics Club runner Cian McPhillips crowned Track Athlete of the Year at the National Athletics Awards.
The deserved honour comes following a breakout season for the Longford middle-distance star, who made history by becoming the first Irish man to qualify for a world outdoor 800m final at this year’s World Athletics Championships.
It took three Olympic medallists to deny the 23-year-old a podium finish.
While competing at the World Championships in Tokyo, the UCD Maths student set new Irish records in both the semi-final and final and became the first Irish man to run the 800m under a time of 1:43.
At this year’s National Athletics Awards, McPhillips was not the only UCD athlete to be recognised.
Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) with her 'Under-23 Athlete of the Year' AwardCredit: Sportsfile
Olympian and UCD Ad Astra Elite scholar Nicola Tuthill was named ‘Under-23 Athlete of the Year’ following a season that included silver at both the World University Games and European U23 Championships, gold at the European Throwing Cup (U23), and twice breaking the national U23 hammer throw record.
A rising star in Irish field events, the Cork native is only the third female Irish thrower to become an Olympian and was one of four then current students at UCD to compete in the 2024 Games in Paris.
UCD was also represented in the ‘Team of the Year’ Award, which saw the Men’s 4x100m relay team of Michael Farrelly, Sean Aigboboh, Marcus Lawler, Israel Olatunde, and UCD AC sprinter Bori Akinola took home the prize after breaking the national record twice in one week at the European Team Championships.
Bori Akinola (UCD AC) with his first outdoor national title won in the men's 100m during the 153rd National Track & Field Championships Credit: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
In August Akinola became Ireland’s fastest man when he clocked a new personal best of 10.20 for 100m at the Stratford Speed GP in London.
The time placed the 24-year-old at the top of this year’s Irish rankings, ahead of the previous best of 10.23 set by fellow former UCD Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholar Olatunde in June.
Elsewhere at the National Awards, UCD alumna Derval O’Rourke was inductee into the Irish Athletics Hall of Fame.
The Cork native burst onto the international stage in 2003, breaking the 13 second mark for the first time in the 100m hurdles to finish fourth at the European U23 Athletics Championships.
Hall of Fame inductee Derval O'Rourke at the 123.ie National Athletics AwardsCredit: Sportsfile
That performance not only set a new national record but marked the beginning of an illustrious career that would see O’Rourke represent Ireland at three Olympic Games.
Her breakthrough continued in 2006 when she claimed World Indoor gold in the 60m hurdles, cementing her status as one of Ireland’s most decorated athletes.
“This has been an exceptional year for Irish athletics, culminating in an amazing haul of medals across the international stage - from U18, U20, U23 championships right up to Senior and Masters levels,” said Brid Golden, President of Athletics Ireland.
“We are delighted to celebrate our athletes’ achievements at our National Awards and to express our gratitude to the coaches, clubs, volunteers, and long serving members of our athletics community. Their dedication and commitment are vital to the continued promotion, growth and success of our sport.”
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
