The big night is almost here. On Friday evening the stars of national and international track and field will gather at the traditional home of Irish athletics, the Morton Stadium in north Dublin for Morton Games, a World Athletics Continental tour meet.
The evening’s proceedings will get underway with the pre-programme at 5:30 PM with the main international programme commencing at 7 PM.
Morton Games is a night of non-stop international athletics climaxing with the iconic Morton Mile packed into 2 hours. The main program will start at 7 PM (pre-programme from 5:30 PM).
Sarah Lavin is a confirmed starter in the women’s 100 hurdles where she will face a stellar field of sub 13 second hurdlers including Ebony Morrison (LBR) who has just won the African championships, she has a PB of 12.70, Talie Bonds (USA) PB 12.65 and Mette Graversgaard (DEN) PB 12.83.
The grand finale to Morton Games is the Morton mile just after 9 PM. The Morton mile is the most famous race in Irish athletics and will feature top Irish athletes include 3 time National 1500 champion and Olympic qualifier Cathal Doyle, national 5000 champion and Olympic qualifier Brian Fay and Darragh McElhinney. International athletes include 2024 NCAA 1500 champion Joe Waskom (USA), PB 3.51.90, 2024 NCAA 1500 indoor champion and the winner of the mile race in Croke Park on Sunday Luke Houser (USA), PB 3.51.73. Adam Spencer, the Australian 1500 champion, with a mile PB of 3.52.70.
The women’s 1500 entry includes Ireland’s European U/23 gold medallist and National Champion Sophie O’Sullivan, European U/23 bronze medallist Shannon Flockhart (GBR), 2023 World University 800 and 1500 gold medallist Laura Pellicoro (ITA) and 2022 World U/20 bronze medallist Nancy Cherop (KEN).
Ireland’s 2024 national champions will be out in force on Friday night include: Israel Olatunde, Jack Raftery, Cathal Doyle, Brian Fay, Sarah Lavin, Sophie O’Sullivan, Niamh Fogarty and Sommer Lecky, Mark Smyth.
Pre program events: U/10, U/12, U/14, U/16 mixed 4 x 200 relays, the U10 to U/16 16 x 100 Relay, U/20 Women and U/20 Men’s miles.
7.00pm main program – Inter Varsity Swedish sprint relay
Men’s events- 100, 400, 800, the Morton mile, Albie Thomas 5000, shot, International 4 x 100 relay.
Women’s events – 100 hurdles, 200, 800, 1500, high jump, discus
Irish International athletes: Sarah Lavin, Louise Shanahan, Georgie Hartigan, Efrem Gidey, Cathal Doyle, Brian Fay, Nick Griggs, Sophie O’Sullivan, Niamh Fogarty, Israel Olatunde , Jack Raftery, Cillin Greene, Chris O’Donnell.
International athletes:
Morton Mile: Joe Waskom (USA), Adam Spencer (AUS) Sam Prakel (USA), Luke Houser (USA).
Men’s Shot Put: Jordan Giest (USA), Chuk Enekwechi (NGR), Franck Elemba (FRA)
Women’s 800: Allie Wilson (USA), Abbie Ives (GBR)
Men’s 100: JT Smith (USA) 10.02, Retshidisitswe Mlenga (RSA) 10.04, Coby Hilton (USA) 10.14
Men’s 800 : Guy Learmonth (GBR), Nathan Green (USA), Edmund Du Plessis (RSA)
Women’s 200: Torrie Lewis (AUS), DL winner, Lauren Rain James (USA)
Many thanks to our wonderful sponsors: Albie Thomas Family, Athletics Leinster, Behan & Associates, Bon Secours Hospital Dublin, Commercial Hygiene Services, Davy, Decathlon, Dublin Athletics, Fashionflo, HyGo Water, Jerry Kiernan Foundation, Last Lap Café, Loki Sports, Irish life Dublin Marathon, Whiteford Geo Service, Juice Genie.
Thanks to the meet partners: Athletics Ireland, Clonliffe Harriers, Dublin City University, Fingal County Council, Sport Ireland.
Admission -€10. U/16 - Free
TICKETS: https://eventmaster.ie/event/vvR6SPoSb4
Gates open from 4.30 pm
Pre-programme from 5.30 pm
Main programme from 7.00 pm
Car parking:
Please note there is no public car-parking whatsoever within the stadium for either spectators or athletes.
Thanks to Trinity College there will be limited car parking available in Trinity Sports Grounds, Santry Avenue, Santry. Please note that this car park will remain open until 9.45 pm only.
Trinity Sports Grounds are approx a 10/15 minute walk from Morton Stadium.
Please note there is no car-parking permitted on the Swords Road, on the main route through the Northwood complex nor is there event parking in Santry Demsene Park. The authorities mat have any vehicles parked in these areas ticketed or towed away.
Public transport:
As part of our sustainability program we would encourage all patrons of Morton Games to avail of public transport. Santry is very well serviced by Dublin Bus and in particular the following bus routes, numbers 16, 27b ,33, 41, 41b, 41c, 41d with a stop at Morton Stadium. Route 1 from the city to Santry (Shanard) is a 10 minute walk to Morton Stadium. Route N6 runs from Finglas/Kilbarrack/Finglas with a stop on Santry Avenue, (2 minutes walk to Morton Stadium).
Cycling:
There are good bicycle lanes serving Santry and bike parking racks are available in Morton Stadium.