Kirkland joins City Sports 100m hurdles line-up

ANTANETTE KIRKLAND, partner of sprint sensation Bernard Williams, will join the line-up for the 100m hurdles at the BUPA Cork City Sports at The Mardyke on Saturday week.

Kirkland is a former world indoors and outdoors champion and comes to Cork with a personal best of 12.42 seconds and holds the second fastest time in the world this year.

She joins an interesting line-up in Cork which includes local Olympian, Dervla O’Rourke who finished second to Sarah Cluxton at the European Cup in Leiria on Sunday.

Also included is last year’s winner, Maila Paula Machado from Brazil who won her national championship over the weekend in 12.89.

Williams will be one of the star attractions at the meet. An entertainer on the track, he also entertains off the track as a stand-up comedian under the name of “Hollywood Williams.”

A surprise silver medallist in the 200m at last year’s Olympic Games, he has a gold medal from the relay in 2000, two gold from relays in world championships and an individual bronze medal from Edmonton.

He was confirmed last week along with the former world indoor 400m champion, Tyree Washington.

Shalane Flanagan, twice US short course cross-country champion with bests of 4:09.27 for 1,500m and 8:55.05 for 3,000m from last year, has been added for the women’s 3,000m, featuring Sonia O’Sullivan.

Ireland’s relegation from Division 1 of the European Cup at the weekend was disappointing but it’s not all doom and gloom for Irish athletics according to Nick Davis, PRO of Athletics Ireland.

“There was a brighter side if you take a deeper look,” he said. “You will see some quite good if not outstanding individual performances - the likes of David Gillick who won the 400m and Roisin McGhettigan who won the women’s steeplechase. Paul Hession was also impressive and James Nolan, too, had a very good run. To be out-sprinted by Rui Silva was no disgrace.”

With both men and women relegated the AAI may consider hosting the event in Santry next year.

“The amount of investment required would be substantial,” Davis pointed out. “I have no doubt if we applied for it we would be front runners.”

Enthusiasm to host the event, however, is likely to be tempered by the failure to secure adequate funding for the European Cross-Country Championships which resulted in AAI having to withdraw their application.