London 3,000 sc Olympian Gen Lacaze will compete in the SSC Women`s International Mile in a little over two weeks time. Gen who took her first Australian title, the 3000 sc in April comes to the Morton Games for the second time, having placed 3rd in last year`s mile in a new pb of 4.32.19. The women`s International mile was one of the highlights of the 2012 Morton Games and with top Irish athletes athletes like Fionnuala Britton, Laura Crowe and Kerry Harty, and US stars Brie Felnagle and Deborah Maier it looks like 2013`s meet will serve up another brilliant women`s mile.
The field for the Albie Thomas 3000 continues to get better and better as it`s confirmed that Jonny Taylor will line up on July 17th. Taylor propelled himself into the lime light with a superb cross country season in the winter of 2012/13 winning the McCain Cross Challenge/European Trials in Liverpool and defeating reigning champion Andy Vernon, Vernon also goes in the Morton Games 3000. Taylor followed that up with an outstanding run in the European Cross Country in Budapest in December where he placed 11th and then at the World Cross Country he placed 31st 94th European). On the track he had a recent win in the BMC Sportscity 5,000 in a new pb of 13.55.8 and was 2nd in the 3000 at the Belfast International on June 25th. Taylor will look to smash his pb of 7.57.16 in a little over two weeks time.
The IMC International men`s 800 is set to attract top class half milers to the Morton Games. Confirmed already for the big night is Ryan Martin (USA). Martin is one of the hottest names over the two laps Stateside. In 2012 Martin, who boasts a pb of 1.44.77, narrowly missed out on Olympic selection when he finished 3rd in the US trials behind Nick Symmonds, Khadevis Robinson and Duane Somomon. Also confirmed are Mark Wieczorek (USA) a 1.45.6 athlete and Anothony Romaniew (CAN) with further announcements expected during the week.
Another World class pole vaulter Jeff Coover (USA) has been added to the start list for Wednesday two weeks. Coover last visited the Morton Stadium for these games (then the Clonliffe 125 Track & Field Grand Prix) on the 8th of July 2011 when he won the competition with a best of 5.30m. This season Coover has been in excellent form placing 4th in the US Championships a little over a week ago with a best of 5.60. Coover today looking forward to the Morton Games said: “Just wanted to say I am excited to come to pole vault again for the Irish fans! Glad to have been confirmed this week, and I can’t wait to try to put on a show at the Morton Games again!”
Jeff Coover is the third 5.60 man in this year`s event joining Luke Cutts (GBR) and Igor Bychklov (ESP). Also confirmed is Rhys Searle (GBR), with a 5.12pb and multi Irish National Champion Dave Donegan of host promoting club Clonliffe Harriers.