O Lionáird among 16 Olympians bound for Santry

The Morton Pre Games meeting takes place tomorrow in Santry Stadium, just two days before the beginning of the London Olympics.

Sixteen Olympians travel to Dublin to take part in what is fast becoming one of the highlights of the European circuit.

The Morton Mile sees Ireland’s leading miler Ciaran O Lionáird square off against the up-and-coming Australian Ryan Gregson.

Ó Lionáird made a relatively successful comeback to competitive action at the 61st Cork City Sports last week, finishing fifth in an ultra competitive mile-long race with a time of 3:58.84.

The Corkman’s preparation for the Olympics hasn’t been ideal having spent the bulk of his season recovering from an Achilles injury he picked up in March, but he jogged off after finishing the race in Cork, which was won by Gregson in 3:57.98.

The Australian, who is ranked fifth in the world over 1500 meters, will also see American David Torrence who has already clocked a 2012 mile of 3.52.01.

The women’s mile features no fewer than seven London-bound athletes, with what could be a preview of the Olympic Steeplechase final.

Wicklow runner Stephanie Reilly will face off against fellow Olympians, Australia’s 1500m runner Zoe Buckman and 10,000m athlete Eloise Welling.

US steeplechasers Emma Coburn and Shalaya Kipp will add to the spectacle along with Australian Gen Lacoze and Czech athlete Tereza Capkova.

Ireland’s fastest rising star, 400 meter runner Brian Gregan will look to continue his impressive season when he steps up against formidable Jamaican, Jermaine Gayle, and the favourite for the Olympic 800m title, American Nick Symmonds.

Symmonds competes in his first “Pro 400” less than two weeks before the London Olympics.

The specialist Mondo track in Santry Stadium, which replicates the track in the London Olympic Stadium, sets up the Morton Pre Games as the perfect curtain raiser to the 2012 London Games.