Big names set to take on Hession

PAUL HESSION faces a star-studded field in his quest for a sprint double at the Woodies DIY Irish Indoor Athletic Championships at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast next month.

Last year’s runner-up, Josh Norman, is set to return for the 60m which should be another thriller. He was edged out by fellow American, Rae Edwards, by .01 sec last year and has made the finals of the US indoor championships for the past four years. British sprinter, Lloyd Rice, who finished fourth last year in 6.94 secs, will also join Hession in the line-up while Richard Strachan (Leeds City) who won the 400m last year in a new pb of 47.53 secs, will be back to defend his title.

Brianna Glen of the US will double up in the 60m and the Long Jump with stiff competition coming from Ferrybank’s Kelly Proper in both. Glen has a pb of 7.25 secs over 60m and won the Odyssey title last year in 7.38s while has leaped 6.71m (2007). Proper set a new national indoor record in the long jump at last year’s meet.

Robert Heffernan also set a new national record (18:51.46) in the 5k walk last year and faces a field that includes Italian racewalkers Fortunato D’onofrio and Alberto Contu who are coached by the legendary Sandro Damilano..

This year places on the Irish team for the European Indoor Championships in Turin will be at stake. The women’s 4x400m team received a welcome boost with a special invite to compete at the European Indoors in Turin in March — one of only six European countries invited. The provisional Irish team will be announced on Monday, February, 9.

The South Munster Schools cross-country championships will be hosted by Midleton CBS tomorrow commencing at noon and will feature Douglas CS athletes who did well at the Lottocrosscup International Cross-Country event held in Hannut Belgium at the weekend.