The first athletics event in Ireland for several months will take place indoors this Saturday and Sunday at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown.
It will be what’s called a two-day ‘Micro Meet’ for elite athletes – with a tightly controlled list of entries.
The event is restricted to 50 athletes – and will include four local competitors: Finn Valley’s Mark English, North Sligo’s Chris O’Donnell, Sligo- based John Travers and Carrick AC’s Gerard O’Donnell.
The two days of competition will be streamed live on the Athletics Ireland YouTube channel.
English will be aiming to post a fast time on Saturday afternoon when he runs in the men’s 800 metres (4:25pm). He’s bidding for a quick time ahead of next month’s European Indoor Championships, which begin in Torun, Poland, on March 5th (till 7th).
English won a bronze for Ireland at the European Indoors two years ago.
Before that, Carrick AC’s Gerard O’Donnell competes in the 60m hurdles (1:40pm).
John Travers will run in the men’s 3000m at 6pm.
Then on Sunday, North Sligo’s Chris O’Donnell goes in the 400 metres at 11:45am.
