Maeve O’Neill heads to the World Indoor Championships in Toruń after one of the biggest breakthrough performances of the Irish indoor season.
The Doheny AC athlete from Cork has developed rapidly over the past few years, combining her racing in Ireland with the American collegiate system at Providence College. Competing regularly on the NCAA circuit has helped the young middle distance runner make significant progress over the 800 metres.
O’Neill first began attracting attention as a teenager when she broke the long standing Irish senior girls’ schools record over 800 metres in 2021, a mark that had been held by Sonia O’Sullivan since 1987.
Her improvement has continued steadily since then, with consistent performances over the two lap distance both indoors and outdoors. She also helped Providence College finish third in the distance medley relay at the 2025 NCAA Division I Indoor Championships, gaining valuable experience at the highest collegiate level.
The 2026 indoor season has seen O’Neill take a major leap forward. Racing at the Saucony Battle for Boston meet on Saturday February 22nd, the 21 year old produced a superb run of 2:00.33, breaking the Irish indoor 800 metres record previously held by Síofra Cléirigh Büttner.
That performance also achieved the automatic qualifying standard for the World Indoor Championships, securing her place in the women’s 800 metres in Toruń.
Maeve O’Neill: Quick Facts
Event: 800 metres
Club: Doheny AC
College: Providence College (USA)
Indoor Personal Best
- 800m: 2:00.33 (2026 - Irish National Record)
Career Highlights
- Irish indoor 800m record holder (2026)
- Broke the Irish schools 800m record in 2021, held by Sonia O’Sullivan since 1987.
- Member of Providence College team that finished third in the distance medley relay at the 2025 NCAA Division I Indoor Championships
2025–2026 Indoor Season
- Produced a breakthrough 2:00.33 Irish indoor record at the Battle for Boston meet on February 22nd
- Qualified automatically for the World Indoors with her national record time
- Will make her senior Irish debut in Poland this weekend
We wish Maeve every success this weekend in Poland
Image: Providence Track