Google+ Running in Cork, Ireland: Cork City Sports...Tuesday 17th July 2012

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Cork City Sports...Tuesday 17th July 2012

With just weeks to go to the Cork City Sports, some of Ireland's Olympians will be using the Cork City Sports this evening as part of their final preparation.

In the mens mile, all eyes will be on Ciarán Ó Lionáird to see what kind of condition he is in after coming back from an Achilles injury. The field for the mile race looks very competitive and the winning time will no doubt be close to the four minute mark. Will those in attendance witness a sub four minute mile?

Proceedings get under way at 6pm with the womens hammer. The first track event is the mens 400m hurdles at 6:30pm which includes Thomas Barr who put in a fine performance at the recent European Championships in Helsinki. At 6:40, there is the mens 400m. One to watch here is Brian Gregan who was a relevation in Helsinki when he finished 6th in the final despite being injured. At 6:50, most of the Irish 4x400m relay team line out in the womens 400m. At 7:20 and 7:30, there is the mens and womens 100m. At 7:40, the racewalkers are in action in the 3k walk with Rob Heffernan and Olive Loughnane amongst other.

At 8:30pm, we have the mens mile with Ciarán Ó Lionáird in a fast field. At 8:55pm, there is the womens 3,000m which includes the current European Cross Country Champion Fionnuala Britton.

The full list of events with those taking part can be seen HERE

Timetable of Events    
Track Events
5:30 PM - Juvenile 300m events, 6:30 PM - 400m Hurdles Men, 6:40 PM - 400m Men, 6:50 PM -     400m  Women, 7:00 PM - 3000m Women, 7:20 PM - 100m Men, 7:30 PM - 100m Women, 7:40 -  PM     3000m Walk, 8:00 PM - 100m Hurdles Women, 8:10 PM - Mile Junior Men, 8:20 PM     1 Mile Women, 8:30 PM - Mile Men, 8:45 PM - 200m Men, 8:55 PM - 3000m Men.
Field Events    
6:00 PM - Hammer Women, 6:30 PM - High Jump Women, 6:30 PM - Pole Vault Men, 6:30 PM - Long Jump Men, 7:45 PM - High Jump Men, 7:45 PM - Long Jump Women.

From the press release......."O’Lionaird is using tomorrow’s feature race at the Cork City Sports as part of his final preparations before he heads to London for the Olympic Games.

He faces tough opposition from Australian Ryan Gregson, who is the race favourite, Jon Rankin, Cayman Islands and Peter van der Westhuizen from South Africa in a race that returns to the sports for the first time in years replacing the 1500m.

The four lap event was very popular in Cork 20 to 30 years ago when legends such as John Walker, Steve Ovett, Eamon Coghlan, Steve Cram, Marcus O’Sullivan and the great Sidney Maree from the USA, who still holds the meet record of 3:49:44 set in 1982, regularly participated.

O’Lionaird, who was the Irish star at last year’s World Championships in Korea will welcome the opportunity to test himself in front of his home fans.

O’Lionaird will be joined at tomorrow night’s star-studded event by fellow Irish Olympians, Rob Heffernan, Olive Loughnane, Marian Heffernan, Jessie Barr, Fionnuala Britton, Catriona Cuddihy, Joanne Cuddihy, and Stephanie Reilly."

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