The 123.ie National Masters Track and Field Championships take place in Tullamore this Saturday (Aug 12th), with over 500 athletes set to take to competition across the action-packed eight hour schedule.
Action on both the track and in the field gets underway from 10am with a host of familiar names set to return in their pursuit of national glory.
Annette Quaid (Leevale AC) W45 impressed once again this indoor season and will look to add to her growing gold medal collection with a busy day in the 100m, 200m, and 400m.
Gemma Thompson (Spartans) W35 is another of the sprinters to keep an eye on this weekend with the Derry athlete holding an entry in the 100m having claimed the indoor 60m title earlier this year.
Ger Cremin (An Riocht) has been unstoppable over the short hurdles recently and he’ll look to go for gold once again in the 110mh from 2.30pm.
Fiona Kehoe (Kilmore AC) W40 finished with a brilliant fifth place finish at last month’s national senior championships and looks one of the leading favourites for the 1500m title.
Kehoe, who is also entered in the 800m, is likely to face stiff competition from Dundrum’s Dymphna Ryan in what could be one of the races of the day.
Caitriona Dowling (Rathfarnham WSAF) W35 and Kieran McGrath (Drogheda and District) M35 should go well in the 800m, while David Kidd (SLOT) M40 will look to star in the 3k walk from 11am.
There will be no shortage of intriguing battles in the field events with Erika Jouzapuite (Blackrock Louth)W40 poised to put in another bold showing in high jump.
Olga Nedvede (Dooneen AC) W35 looks set to take her place in the women’s shot put competition and look’s the one to beat.
Saturday’s action will be live streamed on Athletics Ireland’s YouTube Channel with commentary starting from 2pm.