Lawler part of fifth place finishing relay team at European

Marcus Lawler was part of the Irish mixed relay team that finished fifth as the Team Ireland got their 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships up and running in Apeldoorn this evening.

Lawler ran the third leg on the team that included 17-year-old Conor Kelly and relay specialists Phil Healy and Sharlene Mawdsley claiming fifth place in the final of the 4x400m mixed relay, while Olympian Sarah Lavin cruised to victory in her opening round of the 60m hurdles.

After the first legs ran by Kelly and Healy, Lawler was already last when he received the baton but he used his explosive speed well to close the gap and he handed over to Mawdsley who once again ran an excellent final leg and Ireland had to settle for fifth in 3:17.63.

Speaking after the race, Lawler told RTÉ:

“I ran the race as I could. We obviously ran as a team but we had to do our own bits individually as well. I’m proud of everyone’s efforts. I’m delighted to run with the team, it’s my first time here.

“In terms of my own performance, I tried to nick somebody on the first lap. I went out fairly fast, I done what I could but it’s tough going out there.

“I tried to run it as it was presented to me, which was chase, chase, chase. I tried to pick one guys but look, I think we all gave it our best shot and that’s all we could do,” said the Tinryland man.

The Tokyo Olympian also spoke to Athletics Ireland and emphasized his pride at wearing the green of Ireland at a major championship once again.

“On a personal level, I am proud, definitely, to wear the Irish jersey again. We probably thought we could come out here and have a cut, disappointment is probably the wrong word but we all wanted to have a go because we all set ourselves high standards. I’m definitely proud on a personal level and proud of the team and delighted to be part of it,” he said.