ATHLETICS: Woodie's DIY Senior Track And Field Championships

A selection of Ireland's top athletes were on hand today to help launch this year's Woodie's DIY Senior Track and Field Championships, which take place this weekend in Santry.

Olympic walker Olive Loughnane was joined by Olympic 800 metres hopeful David Campbell and one of Ireland's most impressive young athletes, 400m junior record holder, Brian Gregan, at today's launch in the Morton Stadium.

All three will be in action at the weekend in what has already been an eventful year for them. Olive Loughnane returned to athletics following the birth of her daughter in 2007 and went on to become the first Irish female athlete to record the A standard when she qualified last year. She also made sixth at the World Cup of Race Walking in May in the 20km walk recording a new personal best time of 1:29:17.

David Campbell returns to Santry following a stunning double at last year's National Championships. Campbell surprised everyone by competing in both the 800m and 1,500m and won both. Following an injury over the winter Campbell is now returning to his best form and is hoping for a last attempt at Olympic qualification in Santry this weekend.

Brian Gregan has had an amazing year so far and is one of those to watch for the future. Gregan broke the Irish 400m junior record in June recording a time of 46.70 in Germany. He was also part of the Irish senior 4×400m relay team, Project 400, who narrowly missed a spot in Beijing. Gregan then went on to make the final at the World Junior Championships this month where he finished fifth in a new Irish record but was later disqualified for a line infringement.

The Championships will see all of Ireland's Olympic athletes in action along with the best of what Ireland has to offer in track and field events. Some of those in action include Paul Hession, Ireland's fastest man and Irish record holder at 100m and 200m and David Gillick, who is the European Indoor 400m Champion.

Derval O'Rourke will also make a return to Santry where she competes in her specialist 100m hurdles event as will Eileen O'Keeffe and Robert Heffernan who both secured sixth place finishes at last year's World Championships in the Hammer and 20km walk respectively.

Olive Loughnane, who will compete in Beijing, realises the importance of the Irish nationals. "The atmosphere at the Woodie's DIY Nationals is special and something I always enjoy," Loughnane said. "There should be some great competitions on both Saturday and Sunday- a chance for fans of Track & Field to see the Irish Olympic athletes in action before they leave for Beijing."

Mary Coghlan, CEO of Athletics Ireland, is looking forward to the weekends Championships. "We are delighted to have this continuing sponsorship support for the National Track & Field Championships from Woodie's DIY," Coghlan said. "This is our chance to say well done to all the Irish athletes who have achieved the difficult qualifying standards for Beijing. It should be a memorable and exciting weekend at the Morton Stadium."

Ray Colman, Chief Executive of Woodie's DIY, is delighted to be involved again this year. "This is our sixth year to support the most important meeting in the Irish athletics calendar. Woodie's is committed to supporting Irish athletic talent and is now sponsoring all Senior and Junior AAI athletics events. Ireland has a strong tradition of producing world class athletes and through this sponsorship we support our World and European medal winners and all of the up and coming junior athletes who will be competing and seeking to distinguish themselves at their own National Championships. This is a particularly exciting time for Olympic hopefuls as they prepare for the forthcoming games in Beijing. We wish them the very best of luck in their efforts."

The Woodie's DIY / AAI Senior Track and Field Championships take place this weekend the 19th and 20th of July at Morton Stadium in Santry.