Merry at Mardyke to begin long road back to big time

KATHARINE MERRY will take a major step forward in her rehabilitation programme when she lines up for her first individual 400m in two years at the BUPA Ireland Cork City Sports this afternoon.

The 28-year-old Birchfield Harrier was at the peak of her career when stricken with an injury that eventually necessitated career-threatening surgery.

Bronze medallist behind Cathy Freeman and Lorraine Graham of Jamaica in the Sydney Olympics, she posted her career best of 49.59 the following year and, in the lead up to the world championships in Edmonton, was the favourite for the gold medal.