Keelan Kilrehill (born 29 September 2000) is an Irish long distance runner. In 2024, he became the Irish National Cross Country champion.[1]
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | Irish | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | 29 September 2000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Education | University College Dublin | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Ireland | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||
| Event | Long-distance running | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life
editHe is from Dromore West in County Sligo.[2] He was a keen Gaelic footballer, hurler and soccer player in his youth before focusing on running. In 2015, he suffered severe injuries as a 14 year old following a bicycle crash that gave him three broken vertebrae in his back and a fracture in his C1 vertebra in his neck which required surgery to place a long bar into his back, with six screws drilled into his spine to hold it in place.[3]
Career
editHe runs for Moy Valley Athletics Club.[4] In 2021, he finished sixth in the U23 individual race and won gold in the U23 team race at the 2021 European Cross Country Championships in Dublin. The following year, at the 2022 European Cross Country Championships in Turin, he finished ninth in the U-23 race and was part of the Irish U23 team that won bronze.[5]
Kilrehill came fourth in the 2023 Irish National Cross Country Championships. He was then part of the Irish Senior Men’s team who finished fourth at the 2023 European Cross Country Championships. In March 2024, he was selected to compete at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade.[6]
In July 2024, he broke the County Sligo record for the 5000 metres whilst competing at The Morton Games, running a personal best time of 13.53.03.[7] In November 2024, he won the Irish National Cross Country Championship in Irvinestown, Fermanagh.[8]
Personal life
editHe graduated from Dublin City University with a degree in economics, politics and law.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Keelan Kilrehill". World Athletics. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Dennehy, Cathal (6 January 2023). "Sligo's Keelan Kilrehill successfully combining a working life with athletics". Independent.ie. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Dennehy, Cathal (29 March 2018). "Keelan Kilrehill back in the fast lane after bicycle crash". Irish Examiner.
- ^ Dennehy, Cathal. "Ann-Marie McGlynn and Keelan Kilrehill prove a class apart to claim national cross country titles". Independent.ie.
- ^ Dennehy, Cathal (18 November 2023). "Keelan Kilrehill happy to take the hard road to cross-country success". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Farry, Jessica (28 March 2024). "Sligo's Keelan Kilrehill travels to Belgrade for World Cross Country Championships". Independent.ie. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Record-breaking run for Keelan Kilrehill at Morton Games". Oceanfm.ie. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "McGlynn triumphs as Griggs fades to seventh spot". BBC Sport. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "KEELAN KILREHILL BENEFITTING FROM DUAL CAREER PATHWAY". Athletics Ireland. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2024.