Sheehy gets chance to even score with Anderson

CURRENT British champion Shani Anderson, who won both the 100m and 200m at last year’s BUPA Cork City Sports, is set to return to defend to her titles on July 5.

Her return will offer last year's 200m runner-up, Irish record holder Ciara Sheehy, an opportunity to exact revenge. Since last year, the Dubliner has gone from strength to strength, a fact highlighted at the world indoor championships in Birmingham, when she made the semi-finals and just missed out on a place in the final.

If she can only maintain that form and she is likely to improve on it outdoors then a spectacular 200m can be expected at The Mardyke.

The event may be almost two months away, but already some of the world's leading athletes are including it in their schedule. Diane Allahgreen, the British hurdles champion, won the 100m in Cork two years ago and was second last year. Now she is set to renew rivalry with Anderson in Cork.

Another who has signalled his intention to defend his title in Cork is last year's 400m winner Sanjay Ayre from Jamaica.

On current form, however, he will face a big challenge from last year's runner-up Alleyne Francique from Grenada, who has run a 44.72. Francique is a former NCAA champion and a finalist in the world championships. Like Ayre, he is also a finalist from the Commonwealth Games.

Paul McKee and David McCarthy are in super form from the indoors, where they both made the final of the world championships and McKee took a bronze medal. This, coupled with a return to form for Tomas Coman, means the 400m promises to be one of the highlights of this year's Cork showpiece. Winston Smith from Jamaica, who recently ran 10.10 for 100m and 20.60 for 200m, is set to take on the Americans in the sprints.

Another Jamaican Ronetta Smith, who recently clocked 51.56 for 400m, will take on Irish record holder Karen Shinkins in the women's race. They will be joined by Barbara Pethron from Hungary, who was placed in Cork for the past two years.

There will be a big welcome for Freda Davoren in the 1,500m. She won it two years ago, but was missing through injury last year. With former world youths champion Georgie Clarke from Australia, last year's runner-up, Carrie Tollefson (USA) and Belgian champion Fatiha Baouf in the field, the race could play a major role in her bid to achieve a world championships qualifying standard.