Irish athletes keen to restore battered pride

Simon Lewis

After all the disappointments at the world championships in Helsinki last week, Gary Ryan of Nenagh A.C. leads the field in the 100m at the An Riocht track. Ryan recently won his fifth national 100m title but will have opposition from old foe Jer O’Donoghue, Leevale A.C. who reversed the national championship 1-2 at the Dublin International. The English challenge will be led by James Ellington, who has run 10:35 secs, with Welsh runners Adebowale Ademeyuwo and James Moore posing a real threat.

The 400m will have two men who have helped raise the standards significantly in recent years: Paul McKee of Beechmount Harriers, Belfast, and Celbridge’s David McCarthy. They will face stiff competition from England’s Danny Brandwood and South African Olympian Okkert Cilliers.

The 5,000m will see Irish Cross-Country Champion Mark Kenneally race against top-class Kenyan Michan Kogo, with a 13:16 personal best, Mike Kigen (13:21) and Tanzanian world half marathon silver medallist Fabiano Joseph, a 5,000m finalist in Helsinki, who is a late addition to the field.

The mile will pit James Nolan, who failed to reach the world 1500m semis, against Ireland’s newest member of the sub-four minute club, Gary Murray of St. Malachys. They’ll have world championship competitor Steve Slattery of the USA to contend with.

The women’s sprints should see some fireworks in both the 100m and 200m with Ciara Sheehy facing leading English sprinter Joyce Maduaka and Jamaica’s Ronetta Smith, a silver medallist in the Helsinki 4 x 400m relay.

Faith Macharia looks like being the girl to beat in the women’s 800m, where her opposition will include Amanda Pritchard and Celia Brown of Britain as well as Ireland’s Kelly Reid.

Eoin Leen and John Menton renew rivalry in the discus, while the women’s high jump could rest between Rosemary Daniels and Claire Wilkinson.

The event, sponsored by Lee-Strand Co-Operative Creameries, will mark the official opening of the An Riocht club’s new health and leisure facilities at 6:30pm with the track and field international beginning at 7pm.