Meath Young Sportsperson of the Year bidding for gold in Tbilisi this week

Kevin McGrath from Bohermeen AC has travelled with the 30 strong Irish team to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, this week for the European Youth Track Championships that will start tomorrow (Thursday 14th July).

Twelve months ago the Bohermeen AC athlete, who scooped the Meath Young Sportsperson of the Year award last January, won the 1,500 metres at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Tbilisi and has enjoyed success at both 800m and 1500m on a regular basis.

The championships will be staged every two years after the decision was made during the Skopje 2013 Congress to hold this event for under-18s.

The Irish team departed last Sunday morning from Dublin Airport and the journey included a seven-hour stopover at Istanbul airport before they reached their destination.

Kevin will be in action on Friday at 10-15am local time in the qualifying heats of the 800 metres.

If he qualifies, the semi-final will take place on Saturday evening and then the final on Sunday evening.

McGrath will face a stern test in his quest for a medal with the biggest threat likely to come from Elzan Bibic (Serbia) who has the 800m, 1,500m, and 3,000m on the radar.

Bibic has improved markedly since finishing 28th in the junior race at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships and tops the rankings with a 8:01.90 PB for the 3,000m.

Bibic has also entered the 800m and 1500m in Tbilisi but he will almost certainly focus on the 3,000m which is where he seems to have found his niche - according to information on the European Athletics website.