BUSY WEEKEND AT SANTRY

Around 500 athletes have entered this weekend’s AI Open Games, which incorporates the National Combined Events Championships and also a number of national championships. 

Most significant of these is the 10,000m championships, with Shona Heaslip of An Riocht AC leading the men’s entry and Stephen Scullion of Clonliffe Harriers  and Jake O’Regan of St Johns AC entered for the men’s event.

Also taking place are the steeplechase championships and in the women’s race, many times Irish champion  and double Olympian Michelle Finn will take on Eilish Flanagan of Finn Valley AC.

Other bigs names on the entry list include Irish record holders Phil Healey of Brandon AC  in the 400m and Mark Smyth of Raheny Shamrock AC in the 200m. Irish heptathlon record holder Kate  O’Connor of Dundalk St Gerard’s AC has not entered for the  combined events championships but  has puer her name down for the  100m hurdles and 200m on Saturday and the long jump on Sunday. Race of the weekend could prove to be the men’s 800m, with  Paul Robinson of St Coca’s AC and Trim AC’s Harry Purcell among the 38 entries.

Newly minted Irish record holder Ana Gavigan of LSA AC  goes in the women’s discus, while Michaela Walsh of Swinford AC lead the entry for the women’s shot,