The Cork City Mile at the 66th Cork City Sports is set to be one of the most highly competitive races in years.

 

Two of the main contenders are Leo Manzano USA and Patrick Tiernan Australia.

 

Manzano’s list of accolades include Olympic Silver Medalist from the London Games, World Championships Silver medallist, IAAF World Relays Silver medallist and Diamond League winner. He is one of the great American milers having one the first Olympic medal for the USA over 1500m since the great Jim Ryun in 1968, and has been returning to form this season. Coincidentally his agents grandparents came from Kinsale.

 

Patrick Tiernan also has a strong Cork connection. Having been a student at Villanova he was coached by Corks own Marcus O Sullivan. He is a member of Melbourne Track Club and managed by Nic Bideau the partner of Sonia O Sullivan. Tiernan has already had a world lead time earlier this year in the 10,000m and last weekend finished a close 5th place in the Paris Diamond League meeting over 3000m against a star studded field.

 

Also in the field on July 18th are two of the University of Oregon star middle distance runners Sam Prakel and Blake Haney coached by Andy Powell who has coached Matt Centrowitz, gold medallist at 1500m at the Rio Olympics. Robert Domanic USA is also in the field and has run 3.54.7 already in the last few weeks.

 

This race will provide great entertainment for the spectators and should result in multiple sub 4 minute miles on the night.