Albie Thomas Australian Running Legend Returns to Dublin - Cork City Sports invite - IMC timetable - Woodie's DIY Juvenile Track and Field Championships Australian running legend Albie Thomas returns this week to Morton Stadium, Santry where he set two world records in July and August 1958 - Meeting with Ronnie Delany at the scene of his triumph exactly 50 years later Albie Thomas, one of the legends of world distance running returns to Morton Stadium, Santry next Wednesday (9th July) evening at 9 pm where Clonliffe Harriers will host a special reception with Ronnie Delany to mark the 50th anniversary to the day when Thomas set a new world record (13:10.6) for three miles on the cinder track at Santry on 9th July 1958. 
Albie Thomas Sets the 2 Mile World Record in Santry in 1958 watched by Billy Morton in the background Thomas returned to the Stadium later that summer on 7th August 1958 and broke the world record for two miles (8:32). The previous night, Thomas also finished in fifth place in the memorable world record mile race won by Herb Elliot (3:54.5) in which the first five finishers broke the four minute barrier, including Ronnie Delany who finished third in 3:57.5. Thomas acted as pacemaker for Elliot in that extraordinary race and still had the strength to finish in 3:58.6. 
Albie Thomas passing Herb Elliott and Frank White (Avondale AC and Clonliffe Harriers) in the 2 Mile World Record Race Albie Thomas was born in Sydney in February 1935 and is now a sprightly 73 years old. He competed in three Olympic Games for Australia (1956, 1960 and 1964) where his best place was fifth in the 5,000 metres at the Melbourne Games in 1956. At one stage he was the world record holder over 2 miles, 3 miles, 3 miles indoor and the 4 x 1 mile relay. He is President of his Sydney club, St George, jogs or walks every day and still competes occasionally. He also coaches young athletes in his club. 
Albie after the new World Record-'those spikes are hot!!' At the ceremony on Wednesday in the Clonliffe Harriers clubhouse at the Stadium, Albie Thomas will join Ronnie Delany to unveil a special series of photographs to mark the summer of 1958 and receive a presentation from the club. Albie will also run a lap of the track at 8pm in his 1958 singlet as part of the Dublin Athletic Board's graded meeting series. Later this month, the 50th anniversary of that remarkable summer of world records at Santry in 1958 will be commemorated by a new international athletics meeting at the stadium the Brother Ireland Morton Memorial – which will take place on Friday 25th July and feature a full range of track and field events. The meeting will serve as a send-off for Ireland's Olympic team, led by hammer thrower Eileen O'Keeffe who will compete on the night against the current world champion, Betty Heidler of Germany. With the generous support of Brother Ireland and the Irish Sports Council, the unique evening's programme will be a free event for spectators who can apply for tickets (required to gain entry) through the meeting website at www.mortonmemorial.com The final date for requesting tickets via the website is July 20th and complimentary tickets will also be available at the Morton Memorial Tent on Saturday and Sunday of the Irish Nationals. Further details: Garrett Coughlan, Meeting Director, 087 1313146, infor@mortonmemorial.com Roy Dooney,The Media Group, 087 2414165 / 01 2301815 / dooney@indigo.ie Entries are still being accepted for the Junior Men's 1500m at the Cork City Sports on Saturday July 12th. Interested athletes should send on their details to Liam O'Brien - obrienlm@eircom.net TIMETABLE FOR IMC EVENTS: 3000M MEN 6.00 P.M. 1500M WOMEN 6.15 PM 1500M C RACE MEN 6.25 PM 1500M B RACE MEN 6.35 PM 1500M A RACE MEN 6.45 PM Woodie's DIY Juvenile Track and Field Championships The Woodie's DIY Juvenile Track and Field Championships take place this weekend in the Antrim Forum with some of the county’s top young athletes on display. This Juvenile Championships, which are being held north of the border for the first time, will see some of the country’s greatest prospects in action. Olympians like Paul Hession and Robert Heffernan have been Juvenile Champions in the past so many of the athletes competing this weekend could well represent their country at future games. 16 year old Ciara Mageean of the City of Lisburn AC has shown great promise this year. In January she won the 1,500m and set a new Irish junior indoors record at the National Indoor Championships. High Jumpers, Barry Pender from Laois and Craughewell’s Catriona Farrell, are considered as two of the best underage talents in the country and are expected to perform well at the meet. Claire Fitzgerald from the Tralee Harriers club is also expected to be near a medal position when takes part in the Shot Putt and Discus. Fitzgerald had a fantastic performance at the Celtic International Cup in Wales last January where he claimed second place in the Shot with a throw of 12.69m. Chair of the Athletics Ireland Juvenile Committee, John McGrath, is looking forward to seeing the best of Ireland’s Juvenile athletes compete: “The importance of the Juvenile Championships cannot be underestimated. Every single athlete that is heading to Beijing has competed, and won, Juvenile Track and Field Championships. Literally what we are looking at are the stars and Olympians of the future.” McGrath went on to say, “We are delighted to be able the Juvenile track and Field Championships in Antrim. This is the first time that we have held the juveniles outside of the Republic so it is a great step forward for everybody involved.” Registration for each day’s event begins at 9.00am, with races beginning at 10.00am.
Albie Thomas Sets the 2 Mile World Record in Santry in 1958 watched by Billy Morton in the background Thomas returned to the Stadium later that summer on 7th August 1958 and broke the world record for two miles (8:32). The previous night, Thomas also finished in fifth place in the memorable world record mile race won by Herb Elliot (3:54.5) in which the first five finishers broke the four minute barrier, including Ronnie Delany who finished third in 3:57.5. Thomas acted as pacemaker for Elliot in that extraordinary race and still had the strength to finish in 3:58.6. Albie Thomas passing Herb Elliott and Frank White (Avondale AC and Clonliffe Harriers) in the 2 Mile World Record Race Albie Thomas was born in Sydney in February 1935 and is now a sprightly 73 years old. He competed in three Olympic Games for Australia (1956, 1960 and 1964) where his best place was fifth in the 5,000 metres at the Melbourne Games in 1956. At one stage he was the world record holder over 2 miles, 3 miles, 3 miles indoor and the 4 x 1 mile relay. He is President of his Sydney club, St George, jogs or walks every day and still competes occasionally. He also coaches young athletes in his club. Albie after the new World Record-'those spikes are hot!!' At the ceremony on Wednesday in the Clonliffe Harriers clubhouse at the Stadium, Albie Thomas will join Ronnie Delany to unveil a special series of photographs to mark the summer of 1958 and receive a presentation from the club. Albie will also run a lap of the track at 8pm in his 1958 singlet as part of the Dublin Athletic Board's graded meeting series. Later this month, the 50th anniversary of that remarkable summer of world records at Santry in 1958 will be commemorated by a new international athletics meeting at the stadium the Brother Ireland Morton Memorial – which will take place on Friday 25th July and feature a full range of track and field events. The meeting will serve as a send-off for Ireland's Olympic team, led by hammer thrower Eileen O'Keeffe who will compete on the night against the current world champion, Betty Heidler of Germany. With the generous support of Brother Ireland and the Irish Sports Council, the unique evening's programme will be a free event for spectators who can apply for tickets (required to gain entry) through the meeting website at www.mortonmemorial.com The final date for requesting tickets via the website is July 20th and complimentary tickets will also be available at the Morton Memorial Tent on Saturday and Sunday of the Irish Nationals. Further details: Garrett Coughlan, Meeting Director, 087 1313146, infor@mortonmemorial.com Roy Dooney,The Media Group, 087 2414165 / 01 2301815 / dooney@indigo.ie Entries are still being accepted for the Junior Men's 1500m at the Cork City Sports on Saturday July 12th. Interested athletes should send on their details to Liam O'Brien - obrienlm@eircom.net TIMETABLE FOR IMC EVENTS: 3000M MEN 6.00 P.M. 1500M WOMEN 6.15 PM 1500M C RACE MEN 6.25 PM 1500M B RACE MEN 6.35 PM 1500M A RACE MEN 6.45 PM Woodie's DIY Juvenile Track and Field Championships The Woodie's DIY Juvenile Track and Field Championships take place this weekend in the Antrim Forum with some of the county’s top young athletes on display. This Juvenile Championships, which are being held north of the border for the first time, will see some of the country’s greatest prospects in action. Olympians like Paul Hession and Robert Heffernan have been Juvenile Champions in the past so many of the athletes competing this weekend could well represent their country at future games. 16 year old Ciara Mageean of the City of Lisburn AC has shown great promise this year. In January she won the 1,500m and set a new Irish junior indoors record at the National Indoor Championships. High Jumpers, Barry Pender from Laois and Craughewell’s Catriona Farrell, are considered as two of the best underage talents in the country and are expected to perform well at the meet. Claire Fitzgerald from the Tralee Harriers club is also expected to be near a medal position when takes part in the Shot Putt and Discus. Fitzgerald had a fantastic performance at the Celtic International Cup in Wales last January where he claimed second place in the Shot with a throw of 12.69m. Chair of the Athletics Ireland Juvenile Committee, John McGrath, is looking forward to seeing the best of Ireland’s Juvenile athletes compete: “The importance of the Juvenile Championships cannot be underestimated. Every single athlete that is heading to Beijing has competed, and won, Juvenile Track and Field Championships. Literally what we are looking at are the stars and Olympians of the future.” McGrath went on to say, “We are delighted to be able the Juvenile track and Field Championships in Antrim. This is the first time that we have held the juveniles outside of the Republic so it is a great step forward for everybody involved.” Registration for each day’s event begins at 9.00am, with races beginning at 10.00am. 
