Cork City Sports Launch

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 Pre-Olympic International Athletic meeting at the CIT Grounds on Tuesday 17 July at 6pm.

Speaking at the official launch of the event, which took place at the Lord Mayor’s chamber in City Hall before sponsors, guests and athletes, Cork City Sports chairman Tony O’Connell was thrilled that this year’s event looks like being the best yet with so many top athletes looking to run in Cork. 

“The 61st Cork City Sports International Pre-Olympic meeting is shaping up to be the best ever,” Tony said.  “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.”

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.

For this years event organisers have reverted to the traditional linear distance of one mile instead of the more standard 1500m distance. The Cork City Sports Committee acknowledged the financial support of the Irish Sports Council, Cork City Council and Cork County Council, City of Cork VEC and the Cork Sports Partnership.