Review of 67th Cork City Sports
Review of Cork City Sports 2018
CIT Athletics Stadium
Monday July 16th 2018
Based on Review by Joe Hartnett, Meet Director, Cork City Sports
Results of 67th Cork City Sports
The curtain has fallen on the 67th Cork City Sports, an event that many commentators are saying was one of the best since the 1980's. The standard of international competition was exceptionally high, with elements of local and national interest thrown in for good measure.
The biggest story of the night was when local athlete Phil Healy, from Bandon AC, went toe to toe with some of the best in the world, and put on an amazing performance by setting a new Irish record. Becoming the first Irish female athlete to break 23.00 secs in the womens 200M, breaking Sarah Reilly's 17 year old 200m record of 23.02 sec, set at the World Championships, in Edmonton, Canada. Earlier Phil finished second in the 100M, and was third in the 200M, in some of the finest international fields ever assembled on Irish soil. She can now look forward to the European Championships, in Berlin, next month with a real chance of making a final and possibly a medal.
Another local interest story was the performance of Sophie O'Sullivan (Ballymore-Cobh AC) in the Glenilen Farm sponsored Junior Women's 1500M. Sophie showed real guts in taking the title from a determined Stephanie Cotter (West Muskerry AC), in a time of 4.22.22.
Junior Women's 1500m
Jerry Walsh's Video of Junior Women's 1500m
In the mens sprints Marcus Lawler was superb in finishing second in the 200M with a new personal best of 20.40 taking him from fifth to second place on the Irish all time list, only one tenth of a second behind Paul Hession's record of 20.39.
Crystal Emmanuel CAN dominated the womens sprints taking both the 100M and 200M in world class times of 11.25 and 22.75. Crystal has won the 200M two years running and is one of the best female sprinters in the world.
In the mens sprints Emile Erasmus RSA came tantalizingly close to the 10 second barrier, winning the 100M in 10.14, so near to the meeting record of 10.12. Rasheed Dwyer took second place, and Winston George third. Sydney Siame, ZAM, was supreme in the 200M setting a new meeting record, and a Zambian record, of 20.18 from Irelands Marcus Lawler, and a stellar field.
The womens 800M saw Laura Roesler defend the title she won last year from a large field. The mens 800M was a tremendous race, and was one of the fastest 800M races ever run in this country. It was won by Ryan Sanchez, Puerto Rico, in an incredibly fast time of 1:45.73, a time worthy of any Diamond League race. Ryan also set a new Puerto Rican record. This was the performance of the meeting gaining Sanchez the John O Jagoe trophy for "Athlete of the Meeting".
In the field events both Chuk Enekwechi, USA, in the shot putt and Ida Storm, SWE, in the hammer retained their titles from last year. Enekwechi won from Canadian champion Tim Nedow. Storm won from fellow Swedish athlete Treacy Anderson.
The final event of the night was the mile, and it was another record breaker with ten athletes breaking the magical 4 minute barrier. The race was won by defending champion Sam Prakel, USA, in 3:56.09 from Drew Piazza, USA, and Sam McEntee, AUS. Several athletes broke the 4 minutes for the first time in the race including Corey Bellemore, CAN, and Jamie Williamson, GER.
All involved with the event are proud of the performances put on by the athletes at this years meeting. The international reputation of the Cork City Sports has definitely been significantly enhanced by this years performances.
Videos
Photos from Other Races
Jerry Walsh's Video of Men's 100m B Race
Jerry Walsh's Video of Women's 3000m
