ATHLETICS: Morton Memorial Meeting

Kamila Skolimowska, the Olympic hammer champion in 2000 has confirmed today (Tuesday 22nd July) that she will travel to Dublin to compete this Friday in Morton Stadium, Santry against Ireland's Eileen O'Keeffe and current World Champion, Betty Heidler of Germany, in what will be the strongest ever field event competition held in Ireland.

Skolimowska (25) finished fifth in the 2004 Olympics, and won silver and bronze medals at the 2002 and 2006 European Championships respectively. She has already thrown 73.50 metres this summer. She will be joined in the competition against O'Keeffe by current world champion, Betty Heidler of Germany (who has thrown 74.11 metres this summer) and finished fourth in the 2004 Olympics, the current European Junior Champion, Kathrina Safrankova of the Czech Republic, Kathrin Klaas and Andres Bunjes of Germany and American record holder Erin Gilreath of the USA.

O'Keeffe, who finished sixth in the 2007 World Championships, showed she is coming into excellent form when she threw beyond 72 metres three times last Saturday defending her title at the National Championships in Santry with a winning throw of 72.75. With signs of good weather forecast for Friday, and a fast, dry throwing circle, O'Keeffe is expected to challenge her Irish record of 73.21 metres on the night.

Thanks to the generous support of Brother Ireland and the Irish Sports Council, entry will be FREE to the Brother Ireland Morton Memorial Meeting which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the summer of world records on the old cinder track there. Over four weeks from the 9th of July to 7th August 1958 three world records were set in Santry over one, two and three miles. Almost 20,000 tickets have been distributed free for the event.

Announcing the Olympic gold medalist's addition to the field, meeting director Garrett Coughlan said: 'These throwers are approaching their peak form and the Brother Ireland Morton Meeting will be their final competition before Beijing. It will be a fantastic opportunity for an Irish audience to see a world-class hammer and mile event here in Morton Stadium and a chance for Eileen O'Keeffe and her team colleagues to have a spectacular send-off'.

The Morton Mile will be the major track event of the evening and will feature twelve men who have already broken the four minute barrier for the distance, including Ireland's fastest miler of 2008 David Campbell and Mark Christie. Bernard Williams of the USA, with a best time of 9.94 seconds has also been added to the 100 metres field. The full evening's programme includes five 45 second men and five 50-51 second women in the 400 metres and five sub 10.3 men over 100 metres. A special presentation will be made to five of the 1958 milers, Dan Carnberry, Mick Connolly, Ronnie Delany, Jim Mc Loughlin and Tony O'Donoghue. The programme ends at 9 pm with the Morton Mile.

Juvenile and Junior athletes can enter on the night at the registration desk in the warm up track area.

For Further Information: www.mortonmemorial.com