Williams set to entertain the crowds at the Mardyke

BERNARD WILLIAMS may be the Olympic silver medallist at 200m but the track’s greatest entertainer is only on standby for that event at the BUPA Cork City Sports International Track and Field Meeting this afternoon and that demonstrates the amount of talent that will be on show at The Mardyke (2pm).

Fans will have an opportunity to see the Olympic silver medallist he also has gold from the 4 x 100m relay in 2000 in action as he headlines the men's 100m.

He is a star act both on and off the track and doubles up as a stand-up comedian under the name "Hollywood Williams." For a brief moment at yesterday's reception hosted by UCC at The Mardyke it appeared as if he would take over the show but the microphone would not work for him.

The field for the 100m will include Marlon Devonish who ran the second bend for the British 4 x 100m relay team that snatched the gold medals from the USA by just one hundredth of a second in a sensational finish at the Olympic Games in Athens last year.

There is a second American in the line-up, Chris Johnson, as well as Marcin Jedrusinski from Poland and Jaysuma Saidy Ndure from Gambia.

For Ireland, Gary Ryan makes a welcome return when he runs in both the 100m and 200m, the latter against Devonish and Chris Johnson.

The Olympic long jump champion, Dwight Phillips, will re-launch his build up to the defence of his world title following the US championships which concluded last week. He has won all the global titles available to him over the past two years and is already the hot favourite to retain his title in Helsinki in a month's time.

Tyree Washington, who suffered a shock defeat in the 400m at the world championships in Paris two years ago, when Jerome Young ended his unbeaten run, is set to get his European campaign off to a flying start at The Mardyke. David Gillick, the newly crowned European indoor champion, was forced to withdraw yesterday with a hamstring injury leaving David McCarthy to lead the Irish challenge.

Australian Craig Mottram will attempt to break his national record for 3,000m which he set at 7:37.30 in 2002. He also holds the Oceana 5,000m record at 12:55.76 and has best times of 3:35.40 for 1,500m, and 27:50.55 for 10,000m.

The organisers have brought in a pace-maker to help him in his quest today and the field will include Paul Bitok from Kenya, a two time Olympic silver medallist at 5,000m, and Irish record holder, Mark Carroll (Leevale), who is the big favourite in his home town.

Sonia O'Sullivan will line up for the women's 3,000m with training partner Benita Johnson, the former world cross-country champion, alongside.

Kim Smith from New Zealand is another athlete on form this year and she could cause problems for the former world champion and Olympic silver medallist as could Shalane Flanagan, fresh from the US trials.

Derval O'Rourke is another local star who will be the centre of attention when she lines up for the 100m hurdles but she admitted yesterday that she faces a loaded field that includes the 2001 world champion, Anjanette Kirkland, and the winner and runner-up from last year, Nadine Faustin (Haiti) and Maila Machado (Brazil).

"I could not believe it when I saw the strength of the field," she said. "It would be nice to win but I have to be positive about it. I will be happy with a fast time."

She ran her second fastest time ever 13.10 in Prague on Monday night and that ensured her a place in the world championships in Helsinki.