Ireland’s hottest athletics talent will be on show against some of the world’s best athletes on Friday night at the Letterkenny AC Sub 4 Minute Mile Challenge Event. The event will feature international athletes from USA, Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, Denmark, Uganda, England, Scotland and Wales. The first race starts at 7:00pm at the Danny McDaid Track, Aura Leisure Centre with the grande finale, the Mens Mile, taking to the track at 8:45pm.
International athletes strive for 4 minute mile
The Mile is set to feature several sub 4 minute milers in a world class field, along with a number of other athletes who are all within a second of breaking the magical four minute barrier. Australia’s Sam McEntee leads the field with a personal best of 3:36 for 1500m and 3:57 for the mile. Last year’s race saw the first ever sub 4 minute mile in Donegal with Mexico’s Juan Luis Barrios running 3:59.42, so it will be interesting to see how much faster this year’s field can go.
Close Competition for the long distance
The Womens 3000m steeplechase, features the Irish trio of Kerry O’Flaherty, Michelle Finn and Sara Treacy, fresh from representing Ireland at the European Team championships, have all come very close to the qualification standard of 9:45 in recent weeks. Letterkenny’s Anne-Marie McGlynn will make her debut over the steeplechase, and will look to stake her claim for a place at the World Championships with Rio qualification in mind.
Spectators will barely get a chance to catch their breath as the action doesn’t stop there with many quality races planned. The mens 800 and 3000m races feature exciting line ups. In the mens 400m, Craig Lynch, who has been producing some very fast times, and represented Ireland at the World Relays in the Bahamas recently, will be chasing Mark English’s meeting record of 46.88.
Exciting sprints throughout the day
In the womens 200m, Scotland’s Diane Ramsay, who has Letterkenny family connections, will take on Irish stars Louise Holmes and Vicky Harris. Another of last year’s winners Philip Redrick, USA, will be back to defend his title, but will face stiff opposition in the mens 100m from 10.08 man Lebakeng Sesele of South Africa and Tatenda Tsumba of Zimbabwe. These three athletes will also line out in a mens 200m an hour later. In the womens 400m, Sinead Denny will be up against Donegal girls Kate McGowan and Kelly McGrory. All eyes will also be on the centre-field action with the mens javelin set to produce one of the best competitions seen in Ireland in years. England’s Joe Dunderdale and Switzerland’s Julian Lehmann have personal bests of 76m and 68m respectively, and this will be an impressive event to watch. In the womens long jump, local girl Arlene Crossan will be out to impress the home crowd against Vivian Fleischer, both athletes edging closer to 6metres.
Event Information and Timetable
With such a high calibre of up to 100 athletes competing from all over the World, it is a great opportunity to come and see world class athletics in the North-West. The international programme will be kicking off at 7:00pm on Friday 10th July at the Danny McDaid Athletics Track, Aura Leisure Centre.
Timetable and Startlists available
