Sonia to present Milers’ medals

SONIA O’SULLIVAN will present the awards when the Irish Milers Club stages 1,500m races for men and women in conjunction with the Kit Kat Irish Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore tomorrow.

Mark Christie (DCU/Mullingar Harriers) surprised even himself when he took the silver medal at the national senior cross-country championships at the end of February and has competed precious little since as he put all efforts into preparing for the track season.

Tomorrow he lines up alongside former national senior cross-country champion Gary Murray in the IMC 1,500m when another young gun, Colm Rooney, will also be included.

Aoife Byrne will be favourite to win the women’s race although the ever-improving Orla Drumm (UCC) could spring a surprise.

David Gillick was forced to withdraw from the AAI Games two weeks ago but he now opens his outdoor season in Zaragoza, Spain. He will be joined on the trip by high jumper Deirdre Ryan, who put her injury problems behind her with a 1.83 jump in Italy two weeks ago. She will also compete in Gava, Spain on Sunday.

Ciara Sheehy will compete in a 200m race in Uden, Holland, this weekend. She will be joined by her training partner, Ailish McSweeney (Leevale) and Paul Hession.

Alister Cragg competes in a 5,000m race at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York while Roisin McGettigan goes in the women’s 1,500m and Marie Davenport in the 5,000m.

The following team has been selected for Bratislava on June 14:

Paul Hession (Athenry) 100m/200m; Deirdre Ryan (DSD) High Jump; Ciara Sheehy (DCH) 200m/Relay; Ailish McSweeney (Leevale) 100m/Relay; Anna Boyle (Ballymena/Antrim) 200m/Relay; Paul McKee (Beechmount) 400m; Aoife Byrne (DSD) 800m; Emily Maher (KCH) Relay; Joanne Cuddihy (KCH) 200m; Brian Murphy (UCC) 400m; Antoine Burke (Crusaders) 400m Hurdles.

Team Management: Coaches Paddy Fay and John Sheehan. Physio Nessa Smyth.