All eyes will be on Morton Stadium this Friday with a novel and unique event set to be one of the first Track and Field events of the year on Irish soil.
Dublin City University (DCU) Athletics will take on visitors from across the Irish Sea, University of Cardiff in a match format competition.
Athletes from both universities will go head-to-head in seven different events; 100m, 300m, 1000m, 3000m, Mixed DMR Relay, Shot Put and Long Jump.
The event will mark the first time that DCU has ever hosted an International University competition and provides athletes from the home club with a chance to open their Outdoor seasons in advance of the Irish Universities Athletics Association Track and Field Championships which will be taking place the following weekend.
Head of DCU Athletics Paul Byrne described the event as a “great opportunity.”
“We’re delighted to host University of Cardiff AC in Dublin for this match format event. The inclusion of odd distance events and a mixed DMR relay give the athletes a chance to run an event outside of their main one and have a bit of fun to kick start the outdoor season in team competition. It’s also a great opportunity for our athletes to get a run in the legs ahead of the IUAA T&F Championships in Carlow IT on the 8th and 9th of April which we’re really looking forward to,” he said.
Both teams will have strong athletes opening their Outdoor seasons.
The DCU team includes recent European Cross Country medallist Keelan Kilrehill. Kilrehill is entered in the mixed DMR relay where he will be joined on DCU’s A team by Aine Burke, Jed Walshe and Letizia Gamberi. Athletes will run 1200m, 400m, 800m and finish with 1600m.
Multiple time National 400m champion at juvenile level, Caoimhe Cronin is set to represent DCU over 300m, while in the Men’s race DCU AC Chairman and member of the Irish team that competed in the 4x400m at the European U23 Championships, Shane Monagle is entered.
Decathlete Jack Forde will represent DCU in the Shot Put and Long Jump. Forde had a very impressive Indoor season setting several PBs.
Director of Sports and Wellbeing at DCU, James Galvin, will be making the presentations on the night, the Last Lap café will provide refreshments and Paul Byrne is acting as MC. The action gets underway at 4.15pm and spectators are welcome at the event to support the athletes.
