Worldclass athletics tonight in athlone
It's all building up to a fantastic night's sport in Athlone tonight as the AIT International Arena Grand Prix kicks off.
Some of the world's finest athletes are currently in Athlone - and a number attended a press conference in AIT yesterday.
Top of the bill are the second fastest woman of all time, Carmelite Jeter, former 100m men's world record holder Asafa Powell and current world indoor high-jump champion Mutaz Essa Barshin
Three-time Olympic medalist and former world champion Carmelita Jeter run in the 60m event.
Powell has enjoyed a glittering career, having held the 100m world record between June 2005 and May 2008, with times of 9.77 and 9.74 seconds respectively. The 32-year-old has consistently broken the 10-second barrier in competition, with his personal best of 9.72 being the fifth fastest time in the history of the event. Personal honours were enriched by an Olympic gold medal as part of the Jamaican 4x100m relay team in 2008, as well as relay gold at the 2009 World Championships.
He returned to action in 2014 after serving a six-month ban for taking a banned stimulant. The Jamaican’s original 18-month ban was reduced to six months on appeal.
Mutaz Essa Barshin secured high jump gold at the World Indoor Championships in Sopot with a jump of 2.38m, as well as gold in the Asian Indoor Championships in Hangzhou with 2.36m. Last year, Barshim came second in the World Championships in Moscow with 2.38m, while a bronze in the London Olympics for 2.29m seems a long time ago now.
And if that wasn't enough, there's the potential for an historic first indoor four-minute mile in Ireland.
The line up for the Deloitte Mile will include European indoor bronze medalist Ciaran O’Lionaird as well as top Irish athletes Eoin Everard, John Travers and John Coghlan.
AIT president, Prof Ciarán Ó Catháin, promises “a night to remember” at the midlands venue. “The 2014 grand prix really captured the popular imagination, with a packed arena, fantastic atmosphere and tremendous performances from the athletes. We are confident that 2015 will be even better again. We’re getting a fantastic response from the Irish and international athletes we’re talking to, so watch this space for further big names competing in Athlone next February,” he continued.