NI athletes excel at Morton Pre Games Meet

Conor Bradley

The Morton Pre-Games Meet took place at Santry and featured a number of Olympians and international guests.

City Lisburn AC's Irish sprint champion Amy Foster ran her 3rd fastest ever legal time at Santry, Dublin last night when she won the 100 metres in a time of 11.51 secs at the Morton Games.

The 23 year old Newtownards woman was always in control despite a slowish start and finished ahead of Irish Championship runner up Kelly Proper of Ferrybank who was timed in 11.61 secs.Amy said;

"I am really happy with the time which is my fastest since returning from the States. It's just a little frustrating that I  run so close to my joint NI record of 11.49 secs but can't seem to break it. I am however hopeful as I have been very consistent this year." Amy plans to race again over 100 metres in Sweden this Saturday.

Her training partner Adam McMullen (UU) also had a good night setting two PBs in the 100m Heat (10.88) and Final with 10.81 seconds.

Belfast's Jason Harvey had also reason to be pleased with 4th place in a high quality 400 metres hurdles in his 2nd fastest ever time of 51.27 secs. The 20 year old said he was in good form and  was determined to break his PB of 50.65 secs before the end of the season. The race was won by GB's Nathan Woodward in a classy 49.49 secs.
 
City of Derry's Conor Bradley ran 8 mins 4.52 secs in the 3000 metres which was a PB by some 6 secs. Ben ETrue of the US won in a quality time of 7 mins 44.40 secs. Also racing in the 3000m was Andrew Agnew in 13th in 8.21.75, Eddie McGinley 16th in 8.25.26, JP Williamson 19th in 8.40.37 (PB), Eoghan Totten 8.55.14.

There were a number of IMC races where NI athletes set PBs including Pajo Hamilton taking second in the B 800m in a new PB of 1.51.84, Andrew Wright (Willowfield) 5th in the 800m C in 1.57.02 and Robby Rankin 6th in 1.58.20. In the Women's 800m Kelly McNeice ran 2.07.25

In the Pole Vault Zoe Brown won in 4.03m while Claire Wilkinson bowed out at 3.63m.

The meet produced Stadium records in the Women's Mile as Nicole Schappert (USA) ran 4.30.65 in winning the race cutting some 17 seconds off the 1968 record, from Olympic bound Zoe Buckman (AUS) 4.30.86 and another Olympic bound athlete Gen  Lacaze (AUS) 3rd. Another stadium record in the Albie Thomas 3,000 as Ben True (USA) ran 7.44.40 to win from Elliot Heath (USA) 7.45.26 to shatter the stadium record of Eamonn Coghlan by some 12 seconds.

Results Link to follow when full set available.