American stars Williams and Washington set for Mardyke

BERNARD WILLIAMS, silver medallist in the 200m at last year’s Olympics and member of the USA gold medal winning 4 x 100m relay team in Atlanta will line up in the 100m at the BUPA Cork City Sports on July 2.

While Tyree Washington, one of America’s most exciting 400m prospects has also been added to the line-up. Washington, was a sprinter and long jumper at high school - he won California prep school long jump title in 1994, before turning to the 400m, and in 1997 ran the fastest time in the world at 44.38 secs.

“He certainly adds another dimension to the 400m in Cork,” City Sports Chairman, Dick Hodgins, said. “We have the fastest man in the world so far this season, Gary Kikaya from the Congo, as well as Daniel Caines, the 2001 world indoor champion, and they’ll provide world class competition for the likes of David Gillick, Paul McKee and Rob Daly.

“Also returning will be Sanjay Ayre from Jamaica, who set a new meet record at The Mardyke last year. In fact we have been overwhelmed by 400m runners this year and it is now certain that we will have two top class races.”

Danielle Carruthers who ran a career best of 12.56 for the 100m hurdles last year will line up alongside Ireland’s Derval O’Rourke.

The American athletes will come to Cork the week after the US trials and many will be en route to the world championships in Helsinki.

Those will include the Olympic long jump champion, Dwight Phillips, and Irish fans are hoping that Ciaran McDonagh, who has trained with the Olympic champion, will give him a run for his money. .

The Meath athlete, the first Irishman to jump eight metres, has withdrawn from the Irish team for this weekend’s European Cup in Portugal and his place has been taken by Darragh O’Farrell.

With relegation a big threat for both teams, the women’s squad was reeling yesterday with the withdrawal of the 400m champion and record holder, Karen Shinkins.

She has been suffering from stomach problems since trips to Mexico and Canada and has been advised by her doctor not to fly. It is hoped that Joanne Cuddihy, who has been out of action for some time will be able to step up as a replacement.

Joe Diskin (Sli Chualainn) has replaced Ben Houghton (Ballymena) in the javelin while Chris McDermott Roscommon will be the representative in the 110m hurdles.

Maria McCambridge, who will line up alongside Paula Radcliffe in the 5,000m got the perfect boost at the meet in Santry on Wednesday night when she ran 8:59.23.

Derval O’Rourke is enjoying one of her best ever starts to a season and will be expected to land valuable points in the 100m hurdles, while Eileen O’Keeffe, who posted a B standard for the world championships with a 67.03 hammer throw, could move towards 70 metres in Leiria. Paul Hession (200m), David Gillick (400m) and Gary Ryan (100m) are others likely to figure.