The Lord Mayor of Cork Terry Shannon officially launched the 61st Cork City Sports International Pre-Olympic meet in front of fellow councillors, Cork City sports committee members, athletes and sponsors at the Council Chambers in City Hall.
Speaking at the official launch, Cork City Sports chairman Tony O’Connell stated that this year’s event looks like being the best yet with so many top athletes looking to run in Cork.
“Not alone are most of the top Irish athletes confirmed to run, but other top International athletes who are expected to compete in Cork include Ryan Gregson (Australia), Travis Padgett (USA), Danny McFarlane (Jamaica), Jamie Nieto (USA), Fabrice Lapierre (Australia), Sheri-Ann Brooks (Jamaica), and Tracey Andersson (Sweden).”
“Travis Padgett, Paul Hession, Gerald Phir (Zambia), David Hynes, Marcus Lawlor (Schools champion), and Jared Connaughton (Canada) will all compete in the men’s sprints. In the mile athletes of the calibre of Ryan Gregson, Jon Rankin, Paul Robinson, David Campbell, Russell Brown, Ross Murray, Taylor Milne, Ciaran O’Lionaird, Peter van der Westhuizen, Brian Gagnon, Zane Robertson, and Andy Baddeley are set to do battle.”
The men’s 3000m race is also expected to be a very fast race with Collis Birmingham and Ben St. Lawrence (Australia), Will Leer, Jordan McNamara and Craig Miller (USA) , as well as Jake Robertson (N.Z) confirmed starters.
Barbara Pierre (USA), Ivet Lalova (Bulgaria), Kelly Proper, Cork’s Ailis McSweeney, Catherine McManus, and Alie Israel (USA) will battle it out in the women’s sprints, while in the mile Zoe Buckham (Australia), Gabriele Anderson (USA), Margherita Magnani (Italy), Orla Drumm, and Ciara Mageean go against each other.
In the 3000m European champion Fionnuala Britton will compete against Janet Kisa (Kenya), Eilish McColgan (Scotland), and Katie Mackey (USA).
Leading Irish athletes Robert Heffernan, Fionnuala Britton, Paul Hession, Ciaran O’Lionaird, Orla Drumm, Ciara Mageean, Marian Heffernan and Waterford’s Kelly Proper will be amongst the star-studded field that will compete at the 61st. Cork City Sports
