With less than two weeks now to the Morton Pre Games and the feature race The Morton Mile it can be confirmed that both the reigning and 2010 title winners return to Santry. Jordan McNamara, the 2011 winner and the 2010 winner Will Leer will have a crack at a second title. Both have been in fine form this season McNamara, with a mile pb of 3.56.83, was a 7th place finisher in the US Olympic trials while Leer boasts a faster mile time of 3.55.68. Both will face stiff competition as the field being gathered is the most competitive in years.
David Torrence (USA) may be the man to beat with an impressive mile pb of 3.52.01, he has speed endurance, his 5,000 pb is 13.16 and then throw into the mix his superb speed, 1.45 over 800! On paper he is not only the favourite but Steve Scott`s 32 year old stadium record is well within his sights. Another athlete to watch out for is Ryan Gregson (AUS) a 3.52.24 pb and a 1500 pb of 3.31.06, the Austrilian record holder is also a potential winner. Garrett Heath (USA) was 3rd in this year`s Wanamaker Mile and with a mile pb to his credit of 3.55.24 is a good outside bet.
From New Zealand Zane Robertson will look to the great John Walker, a previous Morton Mile winner, and the man with the fastest ever Morton Mile to his name, although not in Santry but Belfield, for inspiration. Robertson has a pb of 3.56.13. We also welcome back to the stadium for the third successive year both Jack Bolas and Craig Miller of the USA. Another welcome return comes from Ricky Stevenson (GBR) fans will remember him from the 2008 meet when he ran four minutes dead, his then pb, in the IMC -v- BMC Mile, since then Ricky has shattered the four minute barrier with a pb of 3.56.31.
The Irish challenge will come from London Olympics bound Ciaran O`Lionaird. Ciaran was a finalist in the World 1500 last year. Also back is Ireland`s youngest ever sub four man Paul Robinson who ran 3.59.99 in last year`s race and John Coghlan, who ran sub four indoors in the Spring and looks to do the same outdoors for the first time on July 25th.
The full field will be posted on this site the weekend prior to the meet. Further updates on this site. The Morton Games, International Track and Field opens at 7.15pm with an enter fee of 5 Euro per indinidual or for superb value 10 Euro for the whole family. A great night is in store.
Details have just been released regarding a top quality 400H that will open the meet including all the top Irish 400 hurdles: Barr, Crowe, Byrne, Harvey etc and UK athletes Paul Flannery and chris Wakefield. See www.mortongames.ie for more.