With the Olympic Games now finished it is interesting to review the Track & Field athletics and to count the number of athletes who have competed in Morton Games over the past 6 years. An extraordinary 48 athletes who have competed in Morton Games competed in the Rio Olympic Games.
Pride of place in that list goes to Olympic 1500 champion Matt Centrowitz. Centrowitz won the Morton Games 800 in 2012, four years later he wins in Rio. 3000 Steeple Chase Bronze Medalist Emma Coburn (USA) was a 5th place finisher in the Women’s International Mile at that same 2012 Meet in Santry.
Rio Olympics Game finalist Yohan Blake (JAM) was 4th in the Olympic 100 final in a time of 9.93. Blake set the Morton Games Meet and indeed Stadium record and Irish All Comers record of 10.12 at the 2015 Morton Games. Melissa Bishop (CAN) also finished in 4th place in the Rio, the 800 finals, Melisa won the 800 at the 2012 Morton Games. Another 4th place finish by a Morton Gamer in Rio came from Ireland`s Thomas Barr in the 400H settling an Irish national record of 47.97.
Other Rio Olympic finalists include Aisha Praught (JAM), Sara Treacy, Shelby Houlihan (USA), Gen LaCaze (AUS), Eloise Wellings (AUS) , Ryan Gregson (AUS), Hassan Meade (USA) and David Torrence
The full list of Morton Gamers who competed in the Rio Olympics is;
Yohan Blake (JAM) – 100
Henricho Bruintijies (RSA) – 100
Carina Horn (RSA) – 100
Rolande Palacios (HON) – 200
Winston George (GUI) – 400
Thomas Barr (IRL) – 400 Hurdles
Jehue Gordon (TTO) – 400 Hurdles
Mahu Suguimati (BRA) – 400 Hurdles
Sebastian Rodgers (GBR) – 400 Hurdles
Mark English (IRL) – 800
Jeff Riseley (AUS) – 800
Anthony Ramano (CAN) – 800
Luke Matthews (AUS) – 800 & 1500
Melissa Bishop (CAN) – 800
Lovisa Lindh (SWD) – 800
Angie Petty (NZD) – 800
Selma Kaijan (AUS) – 800
Ciara Everard (IRL) – 800
Charlie Grice (GBR) – 1500
Ryan Gregson (AUS) – 1500
Matt Centrowitz (USA) – 1500 Olympic Champion
Julian Matthews (AUS) – 1500
Robby Andrews (USA) – 1500
Hamish Carson (NZD) – 1500
Zoe Buckman (AUS) – 1500
Ciara Mageean (IRL) – 1500
Nikki Hamblin (NZD) – 1500 & 5000
Hilary Steillingwerff (CAN) – 1500
Eloise Wellings (AUS) – 5000
Shelby Houlihan (USA) – 5000
Gen LaCaze (AUS) – 5000 & 3000 SC
Emma Coburn (USA) – 3000 SC – Bronze
Aisha Praught (JAM) – 3000 SC
Sara Treacy (IRL) – 3000 SC
Kerry O’Flaherty (IRL) – 3000 SC
Lennie Waite (GBR) – 3000 SC
David Torrence (PRU) – 5000
Hassan Meade (USA) – 5000
Sam McEntee (AUS) – 5000
Rob Mullett (GBR) – 3000 SC
Andy Vernon (GBR) – 10,000
Zane Robertson (NZD) – 10,000
Ross Millington (GBR) – 10,000
Molly Huddle (USA) – 10,000
Luke Cutts (GBR) – Pole Vault
Chris Baker (GBR) – High Jump
Jarrin Solomon (TTO) – 4 x 400 relay
Renny Quow (TTO) – 4 x 400 relay