THE clock is running down rapidly to the 123.ie National Senior Track and Field Championships which take place at Morton Stadium this weekend.
Whilst our European gold medallist, Ciara Mageean, is absent, this year’s championships still offers a lot to savour for the athletics follower.
This is the 152nd edition and billed as the longest consecutive running national senior track championships in the world.
Some would disagree on account of what they see as a tenuous link through the GAA championships during the WWI period maintaining that continuity.
Most of Ireland’s leading athletes are set to take their place in front of what Athletics Ireland optimistically expect to be the largest crowds in recent years.
And, many of the stars who enthused the country at the recent European Athletics Championships are set to sparkle on the home stage.
One-lap silver medallist Rhasidat Adeleke drops down to test her speed over 100m, while Thomas Barr pursues valuable points in the 400m hurdles to bolster his claims to a place in the event at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
Christopher O’Donnell goes in the flat 400m hoping to claim a place in the mixed relay team in Paris.
Irish 800m record-holder Mark English might also drop in distance to oppose O’Donnell. Similarly, expect miler Andrew Coscoran to line up in the 800m.
Sharlene Mawdsley, a member of the winning Irish quartet at the Europeans and assured of a 400m individual Olympic spot, drops down to 200m.
Sophie Becker makes a last-gasp attempt at joining Mawdsley in the individual event in the French capital hoping for victory and a fast time in the 400m.
The action gets underway from 11am on Saturday and 10am on Sunday, with both streamed on the Athletics Ireland YouTube channel and live RTÉ2 coverage from 12.45pm to 2.30pm on Sunday.
