Clonliffe Harriers introduced the Morton Memorial Invitational Mile, held to honour the memory of Billy Morton who had died in December 1969, in 1970. That first Morton Mile was won by Kip Keino (KEN).  The Morton Mile over the years has attracted cream of world middle distance runners including in addition to  Kip Keino, John Walker, Steve Ovett, Steve Scott, Eamonn Coghlan, Marcus O’Sullivan, Frank O’Mara, Ray Flynn, Niall Bruton, Will Leer and Lopez Lomong.

The Morton Games commenced in 2008 initially as a one off to mark the 50th anniversary of Elliot’s World Mile record and in 2011 became an annual meet, adopting the title Morton Games in 2012. Recent meets have seen some of the Worlds best come to Santry including in 2008 world hammer champion Betty Heidler (GER). In 2012 the Meet attracted no less than 15 Olympic athletes including Matt Centrowitz (USA) 4th in the 2012 Olympic 1500m final and 2016 Olympic Champion, Nick Symmonds (USA), Emma Coburn (USA) a 3,000m sc Olympic finalist in 2012 and bronze medallist in 2016.

2014 was “the night of nights” with eight stadium records set during the course of a never to be forgotten Dublin Summer`s evening, the highlight being Will Leer`s demolition of Steve Scott`s 1980 Stadium Mile record setting a new mark of 3.51.82. 2015 saw Yohan Blake (JAM) come to town to run the fastest ever 100 on Irish soil 10.12 in front of a packed stadium. The 2018 Morton Games saw the men`s 800 won by former World Indoor champion Boris Berian. 2019 for the first time saw a break with the fine weather of the previous 8 year, a deluge saw the athletes and officials soaked still the show went on with a brilliant Albie Thomas 5000 won fittingly by Australia’s Pat Tiernan and in the Mile Robert Domanic (USA) take a second Morton Mile.

The global pandemic put the 2020 and 2021 meets on “ice” but in 2022 Morton Games brought “Santry Night Fever” to Dublin with a great night’s entertainment. A first shot and 100 hurdles produced Stadium Records by Nick Ponzio (ITA) and Jade Barber (USA) respectively and a first Irish Morton Mile winner in 18 years as Andrew Coscoran’s dive to the line won the day ahead of Cathal Doyle and Darragh McElhinney as the Irish filled the podium.

In 2023 the Morton Stadium had a major upgrade with a World Athletics certified class II Mondo track installed. Morton Games itself was also upgraded becoming a WACT bronze meet. Athletes from 28 countries competed that year, highlights included Ireland’s Sarah Lavin winning the 100H in 12.79, a new stadium record and Ryan Mphahlele (RSA) winning the Morton Mile (3.54.41).

Morton Games 2024 saw stadium records in the women’s 1500 of 4.04.98 by Shannon Flockhart (GBR), men’s 800 Edmund Du Plesis (RSA) 1.44.22, 5000 Amos Langat (KEN) 13.12.44, men’s 4 x 100 relay of 38.98 by Team Australia and in the shot a huge 22.25m by Jordan Geist, a stadium and Irish All Comers record. Then to cap a magnificent night Cathal Doyle (IRL), a member of Clonliffe Harriers became the first Clonliffe winner of the Morton Mile is quarter of a century, winning in 3.52.06.

Morton Games LOC is: Noel Guiden (Meet Director), Liam Hennessy, Paddy Marley, Sarah Bateson, Paddy Tuite, Paul Byrne, Andrew Lynam, Stephen Bateson, George Maybury, Jeremy Lyons, Declan Power, Gemma Dempsey, John Devaney, Aoife O’Reilly, Niamh Kelly, Julie Larkin (Head of Sustainability)

Morton Games features the most famous race in Irish athletics,The Morton Mile and along with a full programme of top international athletics.

Morton Mile Roll of Honour

1970  Kip Keino (KEN) – 3.59.2  Morton Stadium

1971  Tony Polhill (NZL) – 4.00.7  Morton Stadium

1975  Eamonn Coghlan (IRL) – 4.02.1  Morton Stadium

1976  Frank Murphy (IRL) – 4.04.54  Morton Stadium

1977  John Walker (NZD) – 3.52.76  Belfield

1978  Steve Ovett (GBR) – 3.55.70  Belfield

1979  Steve Scott (USA) – 3.56.26  Belfield

1980  Steve Scott (USA) – 3.53.8  Morton Stadium (Stadium Record)

1981   Steve Scott (USA) – 3.54.76  Morton Stadium

1983   Eamonn Coghlan (IRL) – 3.53.48  Belfield

1985   Frank O`Mara (IRL) – 3.58.78  Morton Stadium

1986  Marcus O`Sullivan (IRL) – 3.58.45  Morton Stadium

1987  David Taylor (IRL) – 4.01.0

1988  Tommy Moloney (IRL) – 4.05.53

1991  Enda Fitzpatrick (IRL) – 4.03.98  ALSAA

1992  Bobby Farren (NI) – 4.15.1  ALSAA

1999  Niall Bruton (IRL) – 4.01.36  Morton Stadium

2001  Fred Cheruijot (KEN) – 3.59.73  Morton Stadium

2002  Edwin Maranga (KEN) – 4.00.78  Morton Stadium

2003  James Nolan (IRL) – 3.57.7  Morton Stadium

2004  James Nolan (IRL) – 3.59.99  Morton Stadium

2005 Youcif Abdi (AUS) – 4.01.13  Morton Stadium

2006  John Cronjie (RSA) – 4.00.49  Morton Stadium

2007  Mitch Kealy (AUS) – 3.58.45  Morton Stadium

2008  Rob Myers (USA) – 3.56.23  Morton Stadium

2009  Mark Thompson (USA) – 4.01.26  Morton Stadium

2010  Will Leer (USA) – 3.56.81  Morton Stadium

2011  Jordan McNamara (USA) – 3.56.83  Morton Stadium

2012  Will Leer (USA) – 3.56.39  Morton Stadium

2013  Cory Leslie (USA) – 3.55.85  Morton Stadium

2014 Will Leer (USA) – 3.51.82 Morton Stadium (Stadium and Meet Record)

2015  Jeff Riseley (AUS) – 3.57.08  Morton Stadium

2016  Johnny Gregorek (USA) – 3.55.57  Morton Stadium

2017 Robert Domanic (USA) – 3.55.71  Morton Stadium

2018 Sam Prakel (USA) – 3.55.80  Morton Stadium

2019 Robert Domanic (USA) – 3.58.90 Morton Stadium

2022 Andrew Coscoran (IRL) - 3.57.09 Morton Stadium

2023 Ryan Mphahlele (RSA) - 3.54.41 Morton Stadium

2024 Cathal Doyle (IRL) - 3.52.06 Morton Stadium