McKiernan and McCambridge on the one road with Sonia

SONIA O’SULLIVAN, fresh from her victory on the track in California last weekend, returns to the road tomorrow when she lines up for the 5k at Balmoral.

She will be joined by Ireland’s second fastest indoor 3,000m runner, Maria McCambridge.

Catherina McKiernan is also set to renew rivalry with the Olympic silver medallist, but, while she was a clear winner in the Great BUPA Ireland run in the Phoenix Park a month ago, she may find the 5k too sharp.

Freda Davoren (UCC) made a dramatic return after prolonged injury in Balmoral a year ago when she finished third ahead of Hayley Tullett, who went on to take the bronze medal in the 1,500m at the world championships in Paris.

The Cork-based athlete, however, failed to achieve the qualifying standard for that race and will be hoping to get Olympic year off to a good start.

Maria McCambridge was the sensation of the indoor season, qualifying for the world indoor championships and running the second fastest indoor 3,000m behind Sonia O’Sullivan.

Paul McKee, bronze medallist at the world indoor championships last year when he dead heated with Jamie Baulch in the final of the 400m, missed the indoors this year through injury but will make his outdoor debut at a British League meeting this weekend.

He will be joined by Paul Hession, one of the most exciting talents in Irish sprinting at the moment who has the Olympic A standard as his target.

Peter Coghlan, another with Athens qualification on his mind, competes will compete in the 110m hurdles at a meet in Clemson this weekend also.

On the domestic front, the remainder of the Irish team will be attending an Olympic Preparation Day at the NCTC in Limerick. ‘Phevos Day’ is a get together for the athletes already qualified and for those who are focusing on qualification at the moment.

The day will involve a series of workshops to assist athletes’ coaches in their preparation for the Games.

The programme will include media training in association with O’Brien Communications in Limerick as well as stress management and dealing with the heat and pollution in Athens.

Organiser and Athletics Ireland Performance Director Elaine Fitzgerald added says the day is about getting everyone together and dealing with the key issues that the athletes will face in Athens.

“We want to make sure that athletes are fully prepared in every way for the Games and that no situation occurs what they cannot handle,” she said. “By planning in this way we are ensuring that distractions are avoided and athletes are free to concentrate on what they do best.”