Dr Eoin Everard, a lecturer at South East Technological University (SETU), is a new world champion, running an amazing race in Poland to win gold for Ireland.
A lecturer in the Department of Sport and Exercise Science on SETU’s Waterford Campus, Eoin has recently returned from the World Masters Athletics Indoors Championships in Torun, Poland after winning the 3000m in the M35 category.
Speaking about the race, Eoin said, "I was absolutely delighted to win the World Championships. The American runner Mark Husted has run 1.47 for 800m in the past so I knew it would be a very close finish. I was thrilled to be able to run 26 seconds for the last 200m and get the victory.
Eoin believes that being active in your sport is so important when it comes to teaching students. “The staff in SETU have a lot of practical experience coaching or competing and I think that helps us when teaching our students.
“The students and staff have been so supportive since winning which makes the victory even sweeter.”
A member of Kilkenny City Harriers, Eoin was a distinguished athlete at national senior level before commencing his career in the Masters category. In 2022, he won the same event in the European Masters Athletics Championships in Braga, Portugal.
Eoin is a Chartered Physiotherapist and lectures on modules including Sports Medicine, Athletic Monitoring, Performance Planning, Strength and Conditioning and Sport and Exercise Biomechanics on SETU programmes.
Dr Michael Harrison, Head of the department of Sport and Exercise Science said, “It was great to add Eoin to our staff team. The Sport & Exercise Science and Sports Coaching & Performance programmes really benefit from his academic background combined with his experience as an elite athlete.
“Eoin also found time during first semester to offer a sports science experience for schools in the region who are offering Physical Education as a leaving certificate subject. Elite athletes tend to be highly organised and disciplined which allows them to balance multiple commitments.”