Launch of 67th Cork City Sports 2018

67th Cork City Sports Launched

Cork City Sports

CIT Track
Monday July 16th 2018

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Hamish Adams, Cllr. Tony Fitzgerald and Cllr. Declan Hurley

The 67th Cork City Sports was officially launched, at a ceremony at the world HQ of Johnson Controls, at 1 Albert Quay, Cork, on Monday May 28th 2018, by Cllr. Tony Fitzgerald, Cork City Lord Mayor, Cllr Declan Hurley, County Mayor, and Hamish Adams, CEO, Athletics Ireland

67th Cork City Sports Banner 2018

The annual Cork City Sports International Athletics Meeting now in its 67th year, takes place at the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) Athletic Stadium, Bishopstown, Cork, on Monday evening, 16th July, from 5.30pm, and will feature a host of leading international athletes from around the world.

The event will be televised live by TG4 and will also be available on livestream

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Cork City Sports Press Release

"Leading Irish athletes who will compete in Cork include; Thomas Barr, Phil Healy, Ciara Mageean, Paul Byrne, Sean Tobin.

One of the highlights of the meeting will see the local sprint sensation, Phil Healy, from Bandon AC, competing against former World Indoor Champion, and last years defending champion, Barbara Pierre, in the 100M. Phil also takes on the Canadian Record holder, Crystal Emmanuel, in the 200M. Emmanuel broke the 32 year old Canadian record at last year’s Cork City Sports, and has subsequently been a finalist in the World Championships and Commonwealth Games. There are also a couple of very fast Jamaican athletes in both events. Crystal wants to try and break the Canadian record, two years in a row, at the Cork meeting.

The mens 200M will also be one to watch. Last year’s 100M and 200M champion, Sean McClean, USA,, is back to defend his titles. It will be a difficult task, as he will be up against another Canadian, Bismark Boateng, Irelands Thomas Barr, and two extremely fast Americans, Curtis Mitchell and Dedric Dukes. Boateng is currently ahead of Andre DeGrasse in the 2018 Canadian rankings. Irish star Thomas Barr is getting himself ready for the European Championships in the 400M Hurdles, and is using the shorter distance at the Cork City Sports to sharpen his speed.

The Mens Mile will be an outstanding race. Last year, nine athletes went under the magic four minute barrier. This year, five out of the top six in that race are back to try and take the title. The field will also include two extremely fast Americans, Johnny Gregorek and Will Geoghegan, who have featured right throughout the American Indoor season. Ireland's Sean Tobin will also be in the field, after running a magnificent 3:57.00 here last year, to take third spot. There is a strong possibility that the winner of this year’s Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, Chris O Hare, will also contest this event. Chris is also a winner at last year’s London Diamond League and one of Britains best ever middle distance athletes.

Last year saw a wonderful Womens Hammer competition, producing a Meet Record of 71.19M, by Sweden’s Ida Storm. If Ida is going to retain her title this year, she will probably have to match that distance, or maybe exceed it. Her competition in the event will include Kathrin Klaas from Germany, who placed fourth at the London Olympics, and Sophie Hitchon, Britains number one, and Bronze medalist at the Rio Olympics. Also in the field will be another Swedish athlete Tracey Andersson, who is another 70m + thrower.

In the mens High Jump, there is sure to be some exciting competition between the Gold and Silver medalists at the recent Commonwealth Games, Brandon Starc of Australia and Jamal Wilson of the Bahamas, respectively. They will not have it all their own way, as there are also two very good Malaysian Jumpers in the field with personal bests of 2.30m.

With athletes from Ireland, USA, Australia, Ethiopia, The Bahamas, Jamaica, South Africa, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Sweden, Spain, Japan, Kazakhstan, Canada, Kenya, England, Poland, France, Hungary, Bulgaria, Russia, Germany and Slovenia, already confirmed, a feast of athletics goes ahead on Monday 16th July with a 5:30pm start; a great evening out for all the family at CIT Athletics Stadium, Bishopstown.

The Cork City Sports Committee wish to acknowledge the financial support of the Irish Sports Council, Sport Ireland, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Cork ETB, Cork Athletics (Cork County Board Athletics Ireland), and Leevale Athletic Club.

We would like to thank our Event Sponsors:

Johnson Controls

Cork Airport

John Buckley Sports

Leisureworld

AON Hewitt

Musgraves Super Value /Centra

Henry Ford & Son Ltd

KBC Bank

Barry’s Tea

Johnson & Perrott Ltd

The River Lee Hote