Morton Games International Athletics 2024 was officially launched today in the Morton Stadium Dublin.
Morton Games is a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meet taking place on Friday, July 12th, post national track and field championships and two weeks before the Paris Olympic Games
As has been the format of the meet since its inception, the night will be a programme of non-stop international athletics, climaxing with the iconic Morton Mile.
The meet was launched today by the reigning national 1500m indoor and outdoor champion Cathal Doyle, of the promoting club Clonliffe Harriers. In the last, Doyle has won two prestigious international events, the Paavo Nurmi Games and the Kuortane Games, and is on the cusp of qualification for the Olympic Games.
Sarah Lavin is a confirmed starter in the women’s 100m Hurdles where she will face a stellar field of sub 13 second hurdlers including Ebony Morrison (LBR) who has just won the African championships and boasts a PB of 12.70, Talie Bonds (USA), PB 12.65 and Nika Glonjaric (SLO), PB 12.92.
The men’s 100m entry list includes Irish national record holder Israel Olatunde, Pjai Austin (USA) who has a PB of 9.89 and Brandon Cairns, a member of the USA’s world championship 4 x 100 winning team, PB 10.01. To date, a sub- 10 second 100m has not been witnessed on Irish soil. Morton Games is offering a substantial bonus should that happen on July 12th.
The women’s 1500m entry includes Ireland’s European U/23 gold medallist Sophie O’Sullivan, European U/23 bronze medallist Shannon Flockhart (GBR), 2023 world University 800m and 1500m gold medallist Laura Pellicoro (ITA) and 2022 world U/20 bronze medallist Nancy Cherop (KEN).
The meet will conclude shortly after 9 PM with the Morton mile, the most famous race in Irish athletics. All of Ireland’s top milers are entered, in addition to Cathal Doyle, Andrew Coscoran, Darragh McElhinney and Brian Fay will feature on the entry list. Returning is 2018 Morton mile winner Sam Prakel (USA), the 2023 US 1500m and 3000m indoor champion.
Men’s events- 100, 400, 800, the Morton mile, Albie Thomas 5000, Shot Put.
Women’s events – 100 hurdles, 200, 800, 1500, High jump, Discus.
Morton Games International Athletics – Facts at a glance:
What: Morton Games International Athletics.
Where: Morton Stadium, Dublin.
When: Friday, 12th July – International programme from 7pm, with Pre-programme from 5.30pm.
Tickets: Available online at www.mortongames.ie at a cost of €10 with U/16s free.
Confirmed Irish International athletes include Sarah Lavin, Louise Shanahan, Georgie Hartigan, Efrem Gidey, Eric Favors, Cathal Doyle, Brian Fay, Nick Griggs, Sophie O’Sullivan, Niamh Fogarty, Israel Olatunde , Jack Raftery, Cillin Greene, Roisin Flanagan
Confirmed overseas athletes include Ebony Morrison (LBR), Guy Learmonth (GBR), Edmund Du Plessis (RSA), Elena Kulichenko (CYP), Adam Spencer (AUS), Sam Prakel (USA), Ebony Morrison (LBR), Guy Learmonth (GBR), Pjai Austin (USA), Alex Haydock-Wilson (GBR), Talie Bonds (USA), Konrad Bukowiecki (POL).
Further details and news updates at: www.mortongames.ie
All Morton Games media-related enquiries including Event Accreditation should be directed to: mortongamesmedia@gmail.com