Jason Smyth has impressed in the 100m this year

Jason Smyth and Amy Foster have been included in the Irish team for the European Championships in Barcelona from 27 July to 1 August.

Eglinton sprinter Smyth has been in superb form and he will take on Europe's best in the 100m.

Smyth, who set a new Northern Ireland best of 10.32 last month, missed last weekend's Irish Championships as a precaution due to a hamstring niggle.

North Down athlete Foster will race in the women's 4x100m relay.

The team will feature all of Ireland's top athletes including David Gillick, who will run in the 400m, hurdler Derval O'Rourke, sprinter Paul Hession and walker Olive Loughnane.

Gillick is a strong medal contender after being the top European finisher at last year's World Championships where he took sixth place.

O'Rourke took silver in the last year's Europeans and should contend again while Hession will be disappointed if he doesn't earn a medal in the 200m.

World silver medallist Loughnane is also listed in the squad despite having to pull out of the National Championships because of illness.

Irish team manager Patsy McGonagle is confident of bringing home some medals from Barcelona.

"This strength of athletics in Ireland was clearly evident at this year's European Team Championships where we dominated on the track and maintained our Division 1 status," said McGonagle.

"All the signs look positive as the clock ticks down towards London 2012.

"A major bonus this year is the inclusion of three relay teams.

"This clearly indicates that our sprinters are prepared to step and make their presence felt."

Ireland team: Men - Jason Smyth (100m), P Hession (100m & 200m), David Gillick (400m, 4X400m), Gordon Kennedy (400m, 4x400m), Brian Gregan (400m, 4x400m), David McCarthy (800m, 4x400m), Thomas Chamney (800m), Alistair Cragg (1500m & 5,000m), Mark Christie (5000m), Robert Heffernan (20K & 50K walk), Jamie Costin (20K walk), Brian Murphy (4x400m).

Women - Niamh Whelan (200m), Joanne Cuddihy (200m & 400m), Roseanne Galligan (800m), Derval O'Rourke (100H), Michelle Carey (400H), Justine Kinney (400H), Brona Furlong (400H), Fionnuala Britton (3000 S'chase), Stephanie Reilly (3000 S'chase), Deirdre Ryan (High Jump), Kelly Proper (Long Jump), Tori Pena (Pole Vault), Olive Loughane (20K walk), Ailis McSweeney, Amy Foster, Claire Brady, Derval O'Rourke, Niamh Whelan, Kelly Proper (all 4x100m), Joanne Cuddihy, Michelle Carey, Justine Kinney, Brona Furlong, Marian Heffernan, Claire Bergin (all 4x400m)

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