Tokyo 2020: Team Ireland profiles - Stephen Scullion (Athletics)

Scullion has ran the fastest official Irish marathon

Stephen Scullion  celebrates as he crosses the finish line at the 2019 Dublin Marathon. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho
Stephen Scullion celebrates as he crosses the finish line at the 2019 Dublin Marathon. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Age: 32

Event: Marathon

Club: Clonliffe Harriers

Still reigning national marathon champion from 2019, that being the last edition of the Dublin Marathon where Scullion finished second outright with his 2:12:01, the then fastest time by any Irish man in 17 years. First qualified for Tokyo by virtue of a top-five finish in a Gold Label Marathon in Houston in January 2020, he then clocked 2:09:49 at the elite-only London Marathon last October, over two minutes faster than his previous best, and the fastest official Irish marathon. John Treacy's Irish marathon best is still considered the 2:09:15 he ran when finishing third in Boston back in 1988, although for world record purposes Boston is considered a slightly downhill course.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics