Top athletes set for Santry showdown

ALL roads will lead to Santry for athletics fans this Friday night (July 11) for the eagerly awaited Morton Games.

One of the biggest events in the Irish sports calendar, it will feature over a dozen Olympians and some 80 international athletes from all five continents.

The Morton Games takes place just two weeks before the Irish team heads to Zurich for the European Track and Field Championships.

The Meet organisers have announced that Francis Obikwelu will run in both the 100 and 200 metres. Obikwelu is the European 100m record holder with a time of 9.86 which he set when winning the silver medal at the Athens Olympic Games in August 2004. He is a multi medal winner at major championships.

In recent years the Morton Mile has been the feature race of athletics Meets in Santry and this Friday will be no different. Some of the world’s top milers will be present.

The star attraction may be Juan Luis Barrios, who lit up Morton Stadium in 2013. Barrios a two-time Olympic 5000m finalist, won the 3000m and then 40 minutes later finished 3rd in the Morton Mile, setting a Mexican record in the process.

Morton Games are also pleased to announce that this year’s Mile will see the return of Will Leer (USA), two-time winner of the Mile (2010 and 2012). Patrick Casey (USA) will also compete in the Mile, as well as compatriot, Cory Leslie, winner of the 2013 Mile in a time of 3.55.86 which was the fastest winning time for 30 years.

Overall, the 2014 Morton Games promises a fantastic night’s entertainment right.