Olympic stars to shine in Cork

With several Olympians expected to take to the track, the women’s 400m race is shaping up to be the main attraction at the 61st Cork City International Sports at Cork Institute of Technology on Tuesday evening.

Silver medallist from Beijing in 2008, Shericka Williams from Jamaica, is a confirmed runner along with former winner at the sports, Moushaumi Robinson of the USA.

They will come up against some serious home competition however, with a number of Team Ireland’s 4x400m relay team competing, including Cork native Marian Heffernan.

With London 2012 only around the corner, it had been feared the sports wouldn’t attract as many big names as previous years, with athletes unlikely to risk injury so close.

But, according to Tony O’Connell, chairman of the Cork City Sports Committee, the proximity of the Games has had the opposite effect.

“We have a huge amount of potential Olympians,” O’Connell said at the official launch of the sports in Collins’ Barracks yesterday.

“The Japanese middle distance team are coming here on Sunday before they go to London and a few of the Jamaican Olympians are coming. We have athletes from 29 countries, according to the most recent count.

“When you’re on an Olympic team, everyone is afraid in case they get injured at an event so therefore it can be a hindrance for certain events but it depends on the discipline that you’re involved in.

“It’s marvellous to see the likes of the athletes coming here this year. We had to actually turn athletes away for certain events.”

Tuesday’s meet, which starts at 5.30pm, will consist of 13 track and six field events.

Local favourite Derval O’Rourke won’t be in action but there’ll be no lack of home representation, with elite Irish athletes including Kelly Proper, Brian Gregan, Finnuala Britton, Maria McCambridge, Lizzie Lee and Orla Drumm taking part.

O’Connell is expecting a special night. “We have 19 events and every one is high-class. We’re delighted that we’ve brought it to this standard. There are great athletes taking part in every event.”