Oisin Joyce (Lake District AC) has won Ireland’s first ever throws medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships, claiming a superb bronze in the Men’s Javelin competition in Lima, Peru.
The 19-year-old produced the performance of his life to make the podium, extending his own Irish U20 record out to 73.89m, a 17cm improvement on his previous best.
That throw from Joyce, who is from Ballinrobe in Mayo, came in the first round in cool and damp conditions, and it remained good enough to maintain a podium position for the duration of the competition.
It took a final round throw of 76.81m from Slovenian athlete Tom Teršek to nudge Joyce out of the silver medal position. Teršek’s throw saw him claim gold, while China’s Xiaobo Wang had to settle for second.
Joyce, who is coached by his father Pádraic, claims what is only Ireland’s fifth medal at these championships. Antoine Burke won silver in the Men’s High Jump in 1994, Ciara Mageean claimed 1500m silver in 2010, Sommer Lecky won silver in the Women’s High Jump in 2018, while the Women’s 4x100m relay team of Molly Scott, Ciara Neville, Gina Akpe-Moses, Patience Jumbo-Gula and Rhasidat Adeleke won silver in the same year.
Result
- Oisin Joyce – Men’s Javelin Throw – Final – 73.89m NU20R (Bronze)
Day Four – Schedule – local times in brackets
Morning Session
- Men’s 4x400m Relay – Heat 2/3 – 18:08 (12:08)
Afternoon Session
- Fintan Dewhirst – Men’s 400m Hurdles – SF 2/3 – 22:13 (16:13)