Hammer star O’Keeffe could join the line-up at Cork City Sports

OLYMPIC hammer thrower Eileen O’Keeffe could compete at the Cork City Sports with confirmation Ireland’s premier international track and field meeting will be held at the CIT Track in Bishopstown on July 3.

This will be the third time in the history of the City Sports that the event has been held outside of The Mardyke.

It was held at Páirc Uí Chaoimh when the new track was being put down at the UCC Complex and then, in 2001, the 50th edition of the Sports was held at the CIT track.

Now the CIT track has taken on a new dimension with a stand running the length of the finishing straight.

“It’s very impressive,” City Sports Chairman, Dick Hodgins, said. “The last time we held our meeting there it was very successful. Back then we just had the track and the grassy banks around it. Now we have a large stand which is practically finished and this completes a very impressive complex.

“The fact that we can now cater for throwing events if we want to is also important. It means that we could possibly see Eileen O’Keeffe in action if things go well. But it should be remembered that we don’t put on events just for the sake of putting on events. If we have a few decent throwers we would certainly be interested but keeping up the standard and quality of our meet is always of prime importance.

“As it stands we have the date and the venue but we have not finalised the events as of yet.”

Event organisers hope that local star Derval O’Rourke will be the big attraction for the home crowd. Last year she missed the meet through injury but went on to set a new Irish record and finish fourth in the 100m hurdles finals at the world championships in Berlin.

“The enquiries have already been coming in from abroad,” Hodgins said of the international interest. “They are mostly about the date of the event and asking for confirmation if the event is going ahead as a number of the European meetings have fallen by the wayside. We are very fortunate in having a very active team of volunteers. In the past we have had some very good sponsors but money just could not pay for the volunteer effort that goes into the meeting.

“In recent years a number of younger people have come on board and that has been very encouraging.”