Cork City Sports meet director Joe Hartnett is extremely satisfied with the depth of talent assembled for the 65th edition of the event despite this year’s meet clashing with a number of national trials.

Now firmly settled in its new home at the CIT track in Bishopstown, the Cork City Sports International meet captured the partisan crowd’s attention last night as Robert Heffernan clocked a new national record in the 3,000m race walk.

The world’s greatest distance runner, Kenenisa Bekele, will take centre stage at the Spar Great Ireland Run 10k in the Phoenix Park tomorrow as local hope Linda Byrne targets victory in the women’s race in what promises to be a spectacular festival of racing.