Athletes get set for Croker

ELITE Irish athletes including former world indoor champion, Derval O’Rourke, sprint sensation, Paul Hession, and two time European indoor champion, David Gillick, will compete in a unique sprint relay at Croke Park on August 23 as part of the GAA’s 125th Anniversary celebrations.

The race which is jointly organised by the GAA and Athletics Ireland will see some of Ireland’s top athletes and GAA stars represent their provinces in a 5x100 yards relay race at half-time in the All-Ireland football semi-final.

The provincial super sprint relay will see the athletes run in a shuttle style relay down the centre of the pitch.

The teams will be captained by Ireland’s top athletes who are flying back a day early from the World Championships in Berlin to partake. Each team will be made up of the provinces’ top two male and female athletes and they will be joined by a GAA football star.

Leinster will be captained by the national 400m record holder, Gillick. European Indoor bronze medallist over 60m hurdles, O’Rourke from Cork, will captain Munster while Hession will lead the Connacht team.

The Athenry man has been winning top class Grand Prix races across Europe this year and is one of the fastest 200m athletes on the continent. Antrim sprinter Anna Boyle will lead out the Ulster Team. She holds the Irish record for 60 metres and has represented the country for some years.