Cork City Sports - 3/7/2010

Rineanna

So, the only biggest international Track and Field Grand Prix Ireland possesses returns next Saturday for the 59th time. The meet's has a fantastic heritage, with some of the World's top names in athletics competing in Cork down through the years such as Cathy Freeman, Yuriy Sedukh (who set a World Record in the Hammer in the Mardyke in the early eighties), local heroine Sonia O'Sullivan, Reese Hoffa and Novolene Williams and many more.

This year's event has moved to the CIT sports grounds from the Mardyke, which is an interesting change; hopefully the winds are a tad less volatile than the Mardyke's. There's already been a number of big names announced. Former World Champions Lauryn Williams and Kim Collins have been unveiled as entered for Cork, while Craig Mottram, Erin Donaghue and a host of other middle distance stars should make the 1500m/3000m races exciting.

This year sees two new events added tot he programme; Men's Pole Vault and Women's Hammer. The latter will be infortunately missing the injured Eileen O'Keefe, but last year's World Champs 4th placer, Kathrin Klaas of Germany, plus the two emerging Moldovan Margieva sisters, should ensure we see some 70m+ throws.

Any events in particular people are looking forward to?

bazman

Making my first trip to the Cork City Sports this weekend - will give the 3k a bash as a warm-up to the nationals. Nothing like jumping into the deep end

Had to look twice at my dates 3rd/7th/2010 is confusing It's great that's it's on a Saturday - never quite understand why so many races are on a Sunday ...

Rineanna

The women's hurdles field has just got even better...2008 Olympic medalist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep from Canada will take on O'Rourke and top American Hurdlers Kellie Wells and Nicole Denby. This should be smoking.

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?p=14062

bazman wrote: »

Making my first trip to the Cork City Sports this weekend - will give the 3k a bash as a warm-up to the nationals. Nothing like jumping into the deep end

We have a boardsie competing! Best of luck.

Had to look twice at my dates 3rd/7th/2010 is confusing

Point taken.

hunnymonster

Good luck bazman.

I can't wait for this weekend. I've never been "home" for the Cork City sports before. If anyone needs B&B when they're visiting let us know.

Rineanna

Some of the world's top High Jumpers to descend on Cork this weekend:

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?p=14071

Rineanna

Another World Class Sprinter added to the Women's fields, with Lisa Barber, 2003 and 2005 World Champion in the 4x100m and 4x400m relay, making her debut on Irish soil.

Can't get over the strength of this year's fields compared to last year! :eek: Can't wait.

meathcountysec

Rineanna wrote: »

Another World Class Sprinter added to the Women's fields, with Lisa Barber, 2003 and 2005 World Champion in the 4x100m and 4x400m relay, making her debut on Irish soil.

Can't get over the strength of this year's fields compared to last year! :eek: Can't wait.

Might be down to the fact that the US athletes don't have a major championships this year.

woodchopper

A great opportunity for some of Irelands top middle distance runners to compete against someone like Craig 'Buster' Mottram the greatest non African distance athlete of all time, his pbs speek for themselves. Although Dieter might disagree given his olympic gold medal.

Rineanna

Greatest man alive contest moved to separate thread.

bazman wrote: »

Making my first trip to the Cork City Sports this weekend - will give the 3k a bash as a warm-up to the nationals. Nothing like jumping into the deep end

From the article on the AAI website, you'll be one of twenty on the start line! :eek:

Rineanna

Just back from CCS. First time at the new CIT facilities, and they have an excellent facility there. Probably the best for spectators in the country, I would surmise. Although the Long Jump pits are hard to see.

The action was great, even if the winds were ridiculous and ruined the sprint times. One race had -6.7 or something wind, I believe. :eek:

Great to see a loaded women's 100m field: Lauryn Williams, Sheri Ann Brooks, Lisa Barber, etc.

Kate Veale took a huge chink from the Irish Junior record, and Jamie Costin broke the senior one I believe. Although it was a mixed race so not sure if it's official.

Hession and Christian battled to the line in the 200m, with Kim Collins a bit behind.

The Long Jumps for men and women were pretty tame. 7.86m won the men's, while a decent women's field was won in 6.4x.

Distance races were good (and huge), with Rose-Anne Galligan looking strong. Mark Kenneally was tad off form.

David Donegan brought Irish men's vaulting over 5m (woohoo!) for the first time in yonkers, although the announcer said he's cleared 5.20m in training so hopefully that'll come soon.

Good Hammer contest too, with Kathrini Klaas showing her...well....class to win from the Marghieva sisters with a 71m throw.

ecoli

Rineanna wrote: »

Kate Veale took a huge chink from the Irish Junior record, and Jamie Costin broke the senior one I believe. Although it was a mixed race so not sure if it's official.

Super performance from her only 7 second off Olive is some achievement

maryishairy

Kate veale.....16 years of age...put it up to Olive Loughnane in the 3KM walk. A serious talent! A name we will all be familiar with in years to come.

Hession looked good but the wind made the sprint times irrelevant....some were -5 or -6 on the wind guage :eek:

Dave McCarthy missed out on Euro qualification time in the 1500M by a couple of seconds but the conditions (as above) were far from ideal. I would expect him to get the time in the Nationals if there is a good paced race with good conditions.

ecoli

maryishairy wrote: »

Kate veale.....16 years of age...put it up to Olive Loughnane in the 3KM walk. A serious talent! A name we will all be familiar with in years to come.

Hession looked good but the wind made the sprint times irrelevant....some were -5 or -6 on the wind guage :eek:

Dave McCarthy missed out on Euro qualification time in the 1500M by a couple of seconds but the conditions (as above) were far from ideal. I would expect him to get the time in the Nationals if there is a good paced race with good conditions.

Championships tend to be more tactical affairs i can see him head abroad (possibly a BMC) to get the standard. is well capable of it anyway

Condo131

Very disappointing crowd there. Outside the stand, I doubt if there were 300 spectators in all, and there were quite a few empty seats in the stand too!

104 photos from the event HERE.

Great performance by Katie Veale - she shaved skelped 45 seconds off the Irish Junior 3k walk.

CCS is on Setanta on Tuesday next and repeated later

Deise Dan

Good to see a selection of top athletes giving some of our top star some competition on home soil. Pity about the weather, wind didn't help the athletes.
Shame Gateshead Grand Prix and National Championships are clashing, as said about, the championships are tactical and about 400m, there's little hope of a time for europeans.
Some photos from this year's Cork City Sports are on www.editorialimages.ie

t4k30

Some of the races here :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YCBrssAPFU

ecoli

t4k30 wrote: »

Some of the races here :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YCBrssAPFU

Should have known they would be sprinter biased:D