Jodie McCann (born 3 February 2000) is an Irish long distance runner. In 2024, she became national champion over 5000 metres.[1]

Jodie McCann
Personal information
NationalityIrish
Born (2000-02-03) 3 February 2000 (age 24)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Middle distance, long distance, cross country running
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)1500 m: 4:08.34 (Adelaide, 2024)
Mile: 4:32.54 (Sydney, 2024)
3000 m: 8:52.92 (Sydney, 2024)
5000 m: 15:20.93 (Oslo, 2024)

Early life

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From Dublin, she took up athletics at the age of nine years-old. She mostly competed in cross country running until she was 17 years-old. She attended Rathdown School and won national age group titles and received scholarship offers to study in the United States, but opted to study primary school teaching at the DCU Institute of Education, graduating in 2022.[2][3]

Career

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In December 2018, she competed in the U20 competition at the 2018 European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg.[4] In November 2019, she won the Irish U20 cross country title.[5] She was subsequently the first placed Irish U20 runner at the 2019 European Cross Country Championships in Lisbon, Portugal.[6]

Running for Dublin City Harriers, she was the leading Irish woman finishing fourth at the Northern Ireland International Cross-Country and Bobby Rea Cross-Country, held in Dundonald in October 2022.[7]

In August 2023, she trained for a few months with the On Athletics Club Oceania in Melbourne, coached by former world 5,000m medallist Craig Mottram.[2] In February 2024, she set new 1,500m and 5,000m personal bests, running 4:08.34 for the 1500 metres in Adelaide,[8] and 15:35.04 for the 5000 metres in Melbourne.[9] In April 2024, she lowered her 5,000m personal best to 15:30.20 in Hiroshima, Japan.[10]

She was selected to represent Ireland in the 5000 metres at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome, placing seventeenth overall.[11] That month, she lowered her personal best over 5000 metres again, to 15:20.93 in Oslo.[12]

She won the 5000 metres title at the Irish Championships in Dublin in June 2024, running a time of 15:44.80.[13] She competed in the 5000 metres at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in August 2024.[14][15]

Personal life

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Her mother was born in Australia and she has dual nationality. Her mother was a fitness instructor and her father a competetive swimmer. Her brother Luke McCann is also an international runner.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Jodie McCann". World Athletics. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Dennehy, Cathal (6 June 2024). "'I was burnt out all the time from stress. I kept running for myself, but I was not able to achieve anything during that time'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  3. ^ Naughton, Lindie (28 November 2013). "McCanns boost family fortunes at Blackrock". Imdependent.ie. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Ireland to send team of 39 athletes to European Cross Country Championships". Irish Examiner. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  5. ^ "McCormacks share podium places at National Cross Country Championships". Irish Examiner. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Medal mania for Irish at European Cross Country". Irish Examiner. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  7. ^ Naughton, Lindie (24 October 2022). "McCann and Griggs strong at XC – Irish round-up". Fastrunning.com. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Adelaide Invitational". World Athletics. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Maurie Plant Meet". World Athletics. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  10. ^ "58th Oda Mikio Memorial". World Athletics. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Eurorpeean Athletics Championships Women's 500 metres". World Athletics. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Boysen Memorial". World Athletics. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  13. ^ Dennehy, Cathal (30 June 2024). "Rhasidat Adeleke smashes Irish 100m record while taking National Championships title". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Women's 5000m Results - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics". Watch Athletics. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Sophie Becker and Jodie McCann heading for Paris, Thomas Barr misses out". RTE. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.