McElroy in team for Tallin

James McElroy has been included in the Irish team for the Tallin International athletics meeting next Friday. The 21-year-old has made a huge breakthrough this season and won on his debut for Ireland over 1,500 metres at the Europa Cup last weekend.

McElroy has been selected for the 800m where he set a new personal best of one minute 47.41 seconds in winning the British Milers Club meeting a week ago. The Ballymena and Antrim athlete is a relative newcomer to the sport after a promising background in golf and soccer.

As a highly enthusiastic amateur golfer, McElroy got down to a two handicap before switching to soccer while a student at Newcastle University. He was offered a professional term with Doncaster Rovers but decided instead to pursue his athletics career.

Irish International Team (for Tallin, June 19th): Men - 100m: G Ryan (Nenagh); 200m: P Brizzell (Ballymena and Antrim); 400m: T Coman (Templemore); 800m: J McElroy (Ballymena and Antrim), C McClean (St Malachys); Long Jump: G Devlin (Ballymena and Antrim); High Jump: M Mandy (Birchfield), A Burke (UCD); Shot: S Breathnach (Carraroe); Javelin: T McHugh (DCH). Women - 100m: E Maher (Kilkenny CH); 200m: L Barry (Emerald); 400m: Karen Shinkins (DCH); 800m: F Davoren (UCC); 100m: H D O'Rourke (Leevale); Triple Jump: S Hoey (DCH); Discus: A O'Brien (Dungannon). Manager: Michael Quinlan.