In a first for Morton Games the Albie Thomas Memorial race at Morton Games is extended from 3000 to 5000m. The organisers have decided to go with a 5000 this year following on requests from athletes chasing the world qualifying standard of 13.22.60. As Morton Games on July 12^th falls within the qualifying period for the IAAF World Championships in London the organisers were only too willing to assist.

Already there has been huge interest from athletes wishing to take part in the 5000, which is once again sponsored by the Dublin Athletics Board. The race is expected to feature athletes from the USA, Australia, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, England and of course Ireland.

The organisers have pacemakers lined up to assist the athletes with their target. In addition to the IAAF World QT target athletes may also have an eye on the qualifying time for next year’s European Athletics Championships – the 5000 qualifying time is 13.42.00.

The ultimate target may well, however, on July 12^th be the longstanding stadium record of Ireland’s Chairman of the Boards Eamonn Coghlan set back on the 27^th of August 1980 and standing at 13.20.99.