With just days to go to the Cork City Sports International Athletics Meet the excitement is building. Once again top athletes from over 40 countries will descend on Cork to compete in this prestigious international track and field meet at the CIT Stadium on July 7th.
For 65 years Cork people have enjoyed attending the Cork City Sports and most can recant a special moments that they have enjoyed on a balmy summer’s evenings at the track watching Sonia O’Sullivan win the women’s 3k, or Marcus O’Sullivan take the mile, or Yuri Sedykh break the world record in the hammer. July 7th provides an opportunity for Cork people to witness some of the best athletes in the world competing at the CIT Stadium and to create new memories.
For the hard-working committee this event is the culmination of twelve months work. Under the stewardship of Tony O’Connell Chairman, Frank Walley President, Dick Hodgins Meet Director & Liam O’Brien Technical Director over 100 officials will be at their post on the evening to ensure the smooth running of the meet.
From early afternoon there will be a range of specialty food stalls at the stadium providing cuisine and refreshments for all visitors, people are encouraged come along early, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the evening of athletics.
The meet will open at 5:30pm with an U9-U14 juvenile 300m gala. This provides young athletes with the opportunity to participate in an event on the same track as the top Irish and international athletes. The 300m gala an inclusive, fun event open to all boys and girls born between in 2002 to 2007. Each participant will receive a certificate to verify that they competed at 64th Cork City Sports.
Without sponsorship and support of the event could not take place. We are very grateful for the support that we receive from The Irish Sports Council, Athletics Ireland, Cork City Council & Cork County Council. Their continued involvement displays the importance of this international athletics meet to the sporting community and the local authorities.
Sponsorship from local business is also crucial to the hosting of the Cork City Sports and we are delighted to have the continued support of; Centra, SuperValue, Cork Airport, TQS Engineering, Henry Ford & Sons, John Buckley Sports, DPS Engineering, CETB, Barrys Tea, LeisureWorld, FMC International, AON Hewitt, Johnson & Perrott Motor Group & The River Lee Hotel.
Cork City Sports welcomes new sponsors for this years meet; Tyco, Mater Private, Evros and O’Leary Insurance Group and look forward to their involvement for years to come.
For the first time at Cork City Sports four sub 10 second men will line up in the SuperValue 100m. Keymar Hyman (Cayman Islands), Ngoni Makusha & Gabriel Mvumvure (Zimbabwe) and Michael Frater (Jamaica). This has the potential to be the fastest races ever run in Ireland.
USA blade runner and Paralympic T44 World record Richard Browne will compete in the Cork City Council men’s 200m. Brown is chasing the qualifying standard for the Olympics and will compete against fellow USA athlete Curtis Mitchell, a sub 20 second 200m runner and bronze medalist at the world championships.
The most successful Irish track athlete of recent times and European silver medalist, Mark English is confirmed to compete in the Mater Private 800m. English claimed his second European 800m medal in March when he finished in second place at the European Indoor Athletics Championships at the O2 Arena in Prague. He is looking forward to the opportunity to compete against a star studded international field on home soil.
Local hero and world champion Robert Heffernan will be in action in the Cork Airport 5K walk. Heffernan who is currently preparing for the World Championships in Beijing is always a favorite with the crowd.
One of the star attractions of the meet is sure to be two time Olympic Gold Medallist, De’Hashia Tonnek (“DeeDee”) Trotter of the USA. Competing against Trotter in the Henry Ford & Son women’s 200m is Ireland’s Kelly Proper who is chasing the world championship qualifying standard for the event.
Tickets for the 2015 Cork City Sports are available for sale at John Buckley Sports or at the gate on the evening.
An evening not to be missed.
