Several of Ireland's top athletes will compete at the Belfast Irish Milers Meet at Mary Peters Track this weekend.
The meet on 13 May will serve as a chance for the athletes to lay down a marker for the season ahead which culminates in the World Athletics Championships in Budapest from 19-27 August 2023.
Last year saw Louise Shanahan (Leevale A.C.) and European and Commonwealth 1500m silver medallist Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn A.C.) go head-to-head in the 800m, where Shanahan just managed to claim victory, clocking a superb time and PB of 1.59.42.
Both athletes will compete again on Saturday and will aim to go close, if not dip under, the two-minute barrier for the distance.
IRISH STARS SET FOR EXCITING BELFAST IMC TEST 🤩
Several of Ireland’s top talents are set to get their outdoor seasons underway at this Saturday’s (May 13th) Irish Milers Club Meet at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast.
🔗 https://t.co/IGYsHM11Ag pic.twitter.com/ZeLK0Y1vhi— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) May 10, 2023
Other athletes to watch out for are national medalists Georgie Hartigan (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.), Sarah Healy (U.C.D A.C.), Jenna Bromell (Emerald A.C) and Iseult O’Donnell (Raheny Shamrocks A.C). These athletes are currently listed to start along with top international talent such as Great Britain’s Isabelle Boffey.
Indoor athletes Phil Healy (Bandon A.C.) and Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport A.C.) are the lead Irish entries in the Women’s 400m. Mawdsley had an impressive indoor campaign clocking a PB of 51.91s, while both athletes also went to represent Ireland at the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul in March. Healy is also entered in the 200m.
National 60m indoor champion Sarah Leahy (Killarney Valley A.C.), will be looking for an impressive performance in the Women’s 100m as well as the 200m.
Carla Sweeney (Rathfarnham W.S.A.F A.C.) has won national honours over the 1500m, both indoors and outdoors, over the past twelve months and will be hoping to secure a win this weekend.
National senior indoor champion Cheryl Nolan (St. Abban’s A.C.) and bronze medalist Niamh Kearney (Raheny Shamrocks A.C.) are also expected to give a great performance in the Women’s 3000m.
The IMC 2023 is sure to be an exciting day of athletics in Belfast.
