Morton Games International Athletics 2023 was officially launched in the Morton Stadium Dublin. Morton Stadium has recently undergone a €3m refurbishment project led by Dublin City University which included the installation of a new Mondo track. Morton Games on July 14th will be the first major event to take place in the Stadium since completion of those works in mid June.
In addition to the Stadium upgrade Morton Games itself has also undergone an upgrade and is now a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Meet and will now feature additional events in an exciting programme of non stop international athletics climaxing with the iconic Morton Mile. In attendance at the launch were athletes Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers) and Amy O’Donoghue (DSD) both of whom will be competing in next month’s meet.
The international programme on the night will commence with the women’s 100 hurdles which has drawn a world-class entry including Ireland’s Tokyo Olympian, European Games bronze medalist and World and European finalist Sarah Lavin. Also confirmed are top international hurdlers Ebony Morrison (LBR), 2022 African silver medallist and Liz Clay (AUS), 2 time Australian champion and Alicia Barrett (GBR).
Other feature events this year will include the Albie Thomas 5000, and marking the 65th anniversary of Santry’s summer of world records, members of the legendary Australian’s family will be guests at this year’s meet. A top-class field has been put together for this race including Spain’s Abdessamad Oukhelfen, 10th in last year’s European Cross Country, Phil Seseman, who finished top Briton in this year’s London Marathon, Tom Mortimer (GBR) and from the host club Clonliffe Harriers Efrem Gidey.
New this year is the women’s javelin where the field will include Olympian Jo-Ane Van Dyk (RSA) and Jenni Kangas (FIN), both of whom are 60m plus throwers. The men’s high jump also makes a welcome return and again a top-class entry including including Mpho Links (RSA), Juozas Baikstys (LTH) Jef Vermeiren (BEL), all 2.27m men and Stefano Sottile (ITA) 2.33m.
Finally the Morton mile itself where there will be an attack on the Stadium record of 3.51.82 set by Will Leer (USA) in 2014. Confirmed for the Morton mile are Cathal Doyle, who finished 2nd in last year’s epic race, Irish U/20 star Nick Griggs, Ryan Mphahlele (RSA) who has a 1500 pb of 3.32.90 and Jye Edwards (AUS) the fastest miler in the field with a 3.49.27 PB.
Further details and news updates at: www.mortongames.ie
Source: Federation of Irish Sport
