Thomas Barr Bidding For 5th 400m hurdles GloHealth National Title

Thomas Barr is bidding for his 5th 400m hurdles title at the GloHealth National Track and Field Championships this weekend (August 8/9) at Morton Stadium as he primes for the World Track and Field Championships later this month.

"It's the one time of the year where all of Ireland's best, and up-and-coming athletes, get to showcase their talent in front of a home crowd," said the World Universities Champion whose biggest rival for the championship will be Paul Byrne (St Abbans).

"Athletes will usually be on top form, as with the case of this year it is in a period where some of us are priming up for worlds, and some are chasing standards," continued the Ferrybank star.

English V Griffin

UCD's Mark English will be one of those priming for the world championships and he will face stiff competition in the 800m against fellow UCD, and Donegal man, Karl Griffin along with Clonliffe Harriers' Declan Murray.

English bounced back into form at the London Anniversary Games finishing fourth in a season's best of 1:45.49 and secured a qualifying time for the Olympic Games next year. Karl Griffin has had an excellent season finishing 6th in the European U23 Atheltics Championships and then going on to win the Morton Games against an international field.

Cullen's comeback

North Sligo's Mary Cullen goes into the women's 5,000m in search of a world qualifying time of 15:20.00. Cullen, European indoor 3,000m bronze medallist in 2009, is running her first outdoor national championship since 2007.

Proper looks to hit world standard

Kelly Proper is another athlete looking for the world qualifying time in the 200m (23.20) but is among a group of athletes still inside the new IAAF quota system that could see them secure selection for Beijing.

Relay spots up for grabs

Among the excitement at the national championships will be the men's 400m where a number of athletes will be looking to get on the team with a strong showing. Brian Gregan is the favourite for the title with a season's best of 45.85.

Heffernan's return

Defending world 50km race walk champion Robert Heffernan (Togher) will compete in the 10,000m race walk alongside fellow internationals Alex Wright (Leevale) and Brendan Boyce (Letterkenny). All three are Beijing bound later this month.