WThe second (tied) fastest man on the planet Yohan Blake will be in Santry on Friday night for the AON International Men’s 100 at Morton Games. The Jamaican athlete ran his personal best of 9.69 in August of 2012, the only person to have bettered that time is Usain Bolt. Yohan Blake was the 2012 London Olympic 100 and 200 silver medallist. He also ran on the Jamaican 4 x 100 team that won Olympic gold, in a world record time, at those Games. In 2011 he was the 100m World Champion, that same year he won gold on the Jamaican 4 x 100 team.
Yohan Blake is also the second fastest man ever to run 200m and is a current world record holder on the Jamaican 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 relay teams.
What: Morton Games, International Track and Field
Where: Morton Stadium Santry, Dublin
When: Friday July 24th – International programme from 7 p.m. (pre programme from 5.30 p.m.)
About: The Morton Games is a fitting successor to the great track and field meets put together by the legendary Billy Morton. Since its revival, in its current format, five years ago Morton Games has gone from strength to strength and enjoys an excellent reputation with athletes and athletics fans. Last years Meet proved to be an extraordinary nights athletics in Santry with no less than eight stadium records being set on what was an inspiring night. This years Morton Games once again will feature a non stop night of action from the opening of the international programme at 7 p.m. until the stroried Morton Mile itself at 9 p.m. The Meet has attracted all of Ireland’s top athletes as well as some 100 international athletes.
Countries represented at 2015 Morton Games: Ireland, Great Britain, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Slovenia, Netherlands, U.S.A., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, British Virgin Islands, Antigua, Jamaica, Ghana.
Confirmed Irish athletes: World Universities Champion 2015 Thomas Barr (400h), World University finalist Ciara Everard (800m), European U/23 finalist Karl Griffin (800m), Irelands 4 x 400m squad: Brian Gregan, Dara Kervick, Richard Morrissey, Brian Murphy (all entered in 400), Ireland’s sub 4 minute milers John Travers and Eoin Everard (the Morton Mile), Kelly Proper (200), Kevin Batt (3000m).
Overseas International athletes of note competing: Yohan Blake (JAM) Olympic 100 and 200 silver medallist 2012,World Championship gold medallist 2011. The second fastest (tied) man on the planet.
Dai Greene (GBR) – 2011 World 400h champion.
Mark Lewis-Francis (GBR) – Olympic 4 x 100 gold medallist 2004, European 100 silver medallist 2010, Olympic Games finalist, World Championship finalist.
Robby Andrews (USA), 2nd in US 1500 Championships as part of his preparations for the World Championships in Beijing will run in the 800.
Jordan McNamara (USA), the winner of the 2011 Morton Mile.
Ryan Gregson – Australian 1500m champion and London 2012 Olympian.
Manteo Mitchell (USA) – Olympic 4 x 400 2012 silver medallist.
Andy Vernon (GBR) – European 10,000 silver medallist and 5000m bronze medallist
Angela Petty (NZD) the 2015 World Universities champion 800m.
Feature events:
The Morton Mile: The most iconic name in Irish athletics, the field of 16 features 13 sub 4 minute milers. The athletes in this years race come from Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Poland. Confirmed starters include Jordan McNamara (USA), Pat Casey (USA), Ryan Gregson (AUS), Jeremy Rae (CAN), John Travers (IRL), Riley Masters (USA).
he Albie Thomas 3000: Athletes featuring in this race will include Andy Vernon (GBR), Will Geoghegan, the winner of the Cork City Sports Mile, Maverick Darling (USA), Ross Millington (GBR), Adam Clarke (GBR) the British road mile champion, Ireland’s Kevin Batt, Shane Quinn and John Coghlan.
Women`s 800: Angela Petty (NZD), Ciara Everard (IRL), Laura Crowe (IRL), Rachel Aubry (CAN), Victoria Sauleda (ESP), Selma Kajan (AUS), McKayla Fricker (USA).
Men’s 800: Robby Andrews (USA), Michael Rutt (USA), Mark Wieczorek (USA), Jordy Williamsz (AUS), Declan Murray (IRL), Karl Griffin (IRL).
Women’s International Mile: Ciara Mageean (IRL), Sara Treacy (IRL), Aisha Praught (JAM), Gen LaCaze (AUS), Kate Van Buskirk (CAN).
Women’s 200:Kelly Proper (IRL), Cleo Van Buren (USA), Ashley Kelly (BVI), Amy Allcock (GBR).
Men’s 400: Jarryd Dunn (GBR), Richard Buck (GBR), Chumaine Fitten (JAM), Manteo Mitchell (USA), Brian Gregan (IRL), Dara Kervick (IRL).
Interesting fact: The 2015 Morton Games will produce possibly the biggest gathering of 4 minute milers at an event ever in Ireland with some 23 sub 4:00 milers competing spread through the Morton Mile, Albie Thomas 3000 and 800.
Admission to Morton Games: €10.00 with children accompanied by an adult free. Tickets can be purchased at Clonliffe Harriers, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7pm to 9pm.
Event website: www.mortongames.ie