The largest international track and field athletics event for decades will take place in Dublin this week when the Morton Pre-Olympic Games kicks off on Wednesday, Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring said today.
The International Track and Field Meet will include more than a dozen international athletes who are going on to compete in the London Olympics, along with a host of other international athletes.
Highlights will include Irish athlete Ciaran O’Lionaird competing alongside David Torrence from the USA in the Morton Mile, and the Women’s Mile which this year features seven Olympians.
Minister Ring offered his best wishes to the Irish and international athletes taking part. ‘The event is the premier track and field meet in Dublin this year and will provide a great opportunity for the Irish public to see some of our Olympians and Paralympians in action’.
“It’s also an excellent send-off in the run-up to the London Games. We can all share in the honour and pride of our elite athletes, who have inspired us all with their hard work, commitment and dedication. I wish all the participants at the Morton Pre-Games the very best of luck in their efforts.”
Meet Director Noel Guiden confirmed than more than dozen London-bound Olympians are competing, along with many other international athletes. The famous Morton Mile will feature Australia’s Ryan Gregson, one of the fastest in the field, along with Ireland’s Olympic-bound 1500m athlete Ciaran O’Lionaird and David Torrence from the USA.
Seven Olympians will take part in the Women’s Mile including Ireland’s Olympic Steeplechaser Stephanie Reilly, who will compete against:
Australians Zoe Buckman, who runs the 1500m in London; steeplechaser Gen Lacoze; and Eloise Wellings, who will run the 10,000m in London.
US Olympic-bound steeplechasers Emma Coburn and Shalaya Kipp, who finished first and third in the US Olympic trials;
And Tereza Capkova from the Czech Republic.
One of the biggest names in athletics, American Nick Symmonds, will run his first ever ‘pro 400m’ in Santry, in what promises to be one of the most anticipated races of the Meet. Symmonds will run the 800 metres in the Olympics, and is set to face Jermaine Gayle, last year’s European U-23 silver medallist, and European Senior 400m finalist Brian Gregan.
The women’s 800 metres in Santry will include two Canadian athletes who will both be running the 800 metres in the London Olympics: Melessia Bishop and Jessica Smith.
The presence of athletes from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany, Jamaica, Liberia and Ireland will ensure that the Morton Games are truly international affair.
The adrenaline-fuelled athletics programme will open at 7.15pm with the first race featuring the men’s 400m hurdles. This will be followed by a full itinerary of track and field events including 100m men and women, 400m men, 800m men and women, The Mile for men and women, men’s 3000m, women’s long jump, men’s discus and men’s pole vault.
ENDS
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Press Office: 01 604 1087/01 604 1090/01 604 1007
Notes for Editors
The Meet is promoted by Clonliffe Harriers AC in conjunction with a number of event partners including Athletics Ireland, the NSCDA, the Morton Stadium, the Irish Sports Council, Fingal County Council, the Irish Milers Club and Paralympics Ireland.
Events
Men – 100m, 300m, 400 Hurdles, 800m, the Albie Thomas Men’s 3000m, pole vault, discus, the Morton Mile.
Women – 100m, 800m, mile, long jump.
The Morton Mile
The feature event of the Morton Pre-Games will be the Morton Mile. This International Invitational Mile was instigated by Clonliffe Harriers in 1970 to commemorate the memory of the legendary Billie Morton. That inaugural mile in 1970 was won by legendary two time Olympic gold medallist and two time Olympic silver medallist Kip Keino of Kenya. Over the years the Morton Mile has succeeded in attracting the world’s best milers to Dublin including Olympic champions John Walker of New Zealand, Olympic champion Steve Ovett (GB), Steve Scott (USA), the stadium record holder and Irish middle distance greats Eamonn Coghlan, Frank O’Mara, Ray Flynn and Niall Bruton.
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