Mark Smyth and Eric Favors both struck victory at the European Games as Ireland won division three of the European team championship.
The day started extremely well as Mark Smyth won his 200m race in 20.66 seconds, point 38 seconds clear of Georgia’s Mindia Endeladze.
Smyth started strongly and took control of the race on the 100m mark. Ireland’s fastest man powered home over the final 100m for victory.
“I´m grateful to be a part of the Irish team here” explained Smyth. “There´s a lot of talented athletes on it”.
“My legs were a bit tired after racing yesterday and it was tougher getting up this morning than I would have liked, but in a championship setting you have to be able to get up and do it against”.
“There are some similarities between athletics and Gaelic football, my first sport, but also some differences” explained Smyth.
“Football is very team- and community-oriented. But I would advise everyone to try athletics” declared Smyth.
“There´s something for everyone in it. You can always find an event you´re good at. And Gaelic football wouldn´t get me to the European Games”.
While Eric Favors won the shot put competition with a best of 20.28 metres.
Favors opened with 19.16 metres, which would have achieved second place overall. Favors third effort of 20.28 sealed victory ahead of Bosnia’s Mesud Pezer. Pezer’s best as 20.25 metres.
“I´m still hitting volume in training” explained Favors”, so this is not my top shape.
“I live in the US, but I´ve been a part of the Irish team since 2019, competing around Europe, and I built a relationship with the team”.
“There´s good camaraderie, everyone is getting together, we are pushing each other trying to get the most point”.
“I don´t know how the team competition will end, but I knew I could contribute and hopefully thanks to my win we are in a better position”.
