John McAdorey

John McAdorey was a schoolboy star in Ulster athletics, winning Irish under-23 titles at 100 m and 200 m and the senior indoor 60m title, before drifting away from the sport.. Drawn back into the sport at Ballymena Athletics Club under the tutelage of Irish sporting legend Maeve Kyle he made enough progress in 2000 to be included alongside clubmate Paul Brizzel in the provisional Irish relay team for the Sydney Olympics. His place was eventually sealed by a wind assisted 10.28 two weeks before the Games. Although Ireland set a national record in Sydney that still stands through 2019, they failed to progress through the heats.

Irish national champion both at the indoor 60 m and the outdoor 100 m in 2001, McAdorey attempted to qualify for the Northern Ireland team for the 2002 Commonwealth Games but, despite setting a legal personal best of 10.45, he failed to make the team for the Manchester event. Increased work commitments led to him once more leave the competitive arena in his late twenties though he was to return as coach and mentor to young sprinter Lauren Roy.

Sadly, he was diagnosed with cancer in his mid-forties and passed away from the effects of the disease in September 2019.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.45 (2002); 200 – 21.21 (2000).