Cork City Sports - Ireland's Relay Team Positions - "Ireland's Olympians" - Dunshaughlin 10km Japanese Teams For Cork For many years the Japanese National Athletic Federation has sent groups of athletes to the Cork City Sports and those close ties will be renewed on July 12 at the Mardyke when the Land of the Rising Sun will be strongly represented in both mens and womens 3000m events. Mari Ozaki, runner up in the 2007 Osaka Womens Marathon, a 2hour 23 minute performer, will head Japan's challenge for the 3000m assisted by Akanie Taira and Yoshiko Fujinaga. The Irish challenge over 3000m will be headed by Maria McCambridge (DSD) in a strong field that also includes Great Ireland Run winner Victoria Mitchell of Australia, fellow Aussie Georgie Clarke, Molly Huddle and Rene Baillee of USA and the in-form Megan Metcalfe from Canada. Japan's leading long jumper, Kumiko Ikeda joins a classic long jump field that already includes the great Carolina Kluft from Sweden, Grace Upshaw, Rose Richmond of the USA, new Canadian record holder Tabia Charles, Polish champion Teresa Dobiya and Irish champion, Kelly Proper from the Ferrybank club. Ireland's men's 4X400m relay team is just a fraction off qualification for Beijing Olympics"Ireland's Olympians", the RTE TV Series, starts Monday, June 30, at 7.30pm on RTE2, and runs for five weeks. The first programme concentrates on Athletics, and features athletes Derval O'Rourke, David Gillick, Paul Hession, Roisin McGettigan, Alastair Cragg and Fionnuala Britton. Subsequent programmes feature boxing, cycling, hammer throwing, walking, rowing, sailing, canoeing, triathlon, badminton, shooting, fencing and equestrian sports. Doctors, physios, physiologists, trainers and managers working with the Irish Olympic team also feature during the series. http://www.youtube.com/IrelandsOlympiansDunshaughlin 10km Road Race – Saturday 28th June 2008 Press Release One of the oldest 10km road races in the country will take place in Dunshaughlin on Saturday evening 28th June with the 29th running of the popular annual event. It all began back on the 5th September 1979 to commemorate a founding member, 21 year old Mick Manning who lost his life in a road traffic accident just after the club was formed in March of that year. Des McGann, the 1972 Olympian led home 35 hardened runners over 5.75 miles that day while Carol Meagan, the brilliant up and coming female distance runner of that era led home her 3 team Dundrum team mates in the ladies 2 mile race. The race survived through good times and lean times and last years event attracted 248 runners who were lead home by Dave Byrne from Tallaght (32.07) who was winning the race for the 3rd time in the last 6 years and Mary Hanley Na Fianna (37.31) who was recording her 2nd successive win respectively. The race has produced some excellent performances over the years as is evident by the mens and ladies course records of 29.21 and 34.50 respectively set by the Clonliffe Harrier duo of Noel Cullen (2000) and Mary Donoghue (2001). The fastest youngest runner was recorded in 1989 when a local 13 year old kid (Richie Kealy) ran 37.55 while at the other end of the age scale the great Jim McNamara ran 43.04 in 2007 at the age of 68.– so fast times and good times. The race is the 6th of the Meath Road Race League with a chance of winning a weekend away for all who compete in 5 of these races There are cash prizes for all the Top finishers as well as T-shirts & goody bags for the 1st 150 entries and Spot prizes for down the field finishers and with a post race party in the Arch Bar afterwards – the promise of a long evenings fun – There is no finish line! The race starts at 7.30p.m. Entry Fee is 10 euro and registration is at the community centre. Further Information from Margaret Maher at 01-8240519 or Paddy Mangan at 087 2597731.