Below is the report from mortongames.ie on Friday’s meet. Full results available on the event web site. Sincere thanks to every member of the club who helped in the delivery of an extraordindary night’s athletics.
Morton Games just seems to be getting better and better! Friday night, July 10th, witnessed possibly the best addition to date. The event was held in perfect weather conditions: the warm dry spell continued delivering evening time temperatures in the mid-20s and more importantly, only occasionally, a light breeze. There was a record gate with approximately 3300 athletics fans producing a brilliant atmosphere . The athletes responded in kind delivering stunning performances. Highlights included a women’s hammer Stadium record courtesy of Olympic champion Camryn Rogers of Canada, a new Stadium record in the men’s 100 a lightening 10.06 from the United States’ Christian Miller, that elusive sub- 10 is getting closer and closer, Orla Comerford clocking a European T13 100 record of 11.72 (subject to ratification by EA) and a simply stunning Morton mile won, for the 2nd time by Sam Prakel (USA), in a new Stadium and meet record of 3.50.97 and for the first time ever in Ireland all 16 athletes ran sub 4!
The pre-programme.
As is now the tradition at Morton games the action got underway with the interclub juvenile 4 x 200 mixed relays, sponsored by Dublin Athletics delivering great excitement and energy from the off. Clongriffin AC were the first winners of the day in the U/10 event. St Cocas AC won the U/12 relay, then it was Clongriffin AC back on the winner’s podium for the U/14 with Newbridge AC best in the U/16 event. The final relay was the ‘bumper’, the helter-skelter of the famous 16 x 100 interclub mixed relay, sponsored by Fingal County Council. This race always delivers excitement, fun and camaraderie between young athletes. The format is: lap 1 U/10, lap 2 U/12, lap 3 U/14 and lap 4 U/16. There were a total of 10 relay teams taking part, that’s 160 athletes in the same race, with Blackrock AC coming out on top in a time of 3.58.47. Huge kudos to Eugenia Bateson and her superb team for organising this outstanding series of relays, a fitting opening to the night’s proceedings.
Next up it was the Jerry Kiernan Foundation U/20 women’s mile where Leia Ryan (MSB) took the race by the scruff of the neck from the gun, building up a commanding early lead, and although, not unexpectedly, she did tire from the solo effort she had put in, she held on to take an excellent win in 4.53.64, having gone through the 1500 split in a new meet record of 4.33.07. She was 3 seconds clear of the fast finishing Clara Casey (Foyle Valley) 4.56.96 with Isabelle Cuffe (Lucan Harriers) in close order, in 4.57.58.
In the Jerry Kiernan Foundation U/20 men’s mile it was a much closer affair with the finishing order only decided in the final metres as Odhran McBrearty (Finn Valley) took 1st place in 4.15.55 with Tom Flemming (CNDR Track) a fraction behind in 4.15.82. Mullingar Harriers’ Jamie Wallace was 3rd in 4.17.33.
The pre-programme concluded with a new event for Morton Games, the Paralympics Ireland national ambulant men 100. This is a mixed classification race with the winner decided using the RAZA points system, and although Fionan Ruane was 1st across the line in 11.43 the race winner was Charlie Byrne (UDC) on 2289 points with Cathal Ryan (West Muskerry) 2nd 2154, with Ruane taking 3rd 1430.
The main programme.
It was the women’s high jump, sponsored by HyGo Water, that opened the main program with a full field of 10 athletes. London Diamond league winner 2025, Morgan Lake (GBR), was favourite to win the event, and ultimately it was she who took the win with a best clearance of 1.86. In fairness to the high jump women, they seemed to have been the only athlete affected by the slight breeze at this stage, Ireland’s Siun Quinn was 2nd with a new PB of 1.86, 3rd, also on 1.86 (the results been decided on count back) was Michaela Hruba (CZE).
First on the track was the 100 men, sponsored by Athletics Leinster, in their qualifiers, with full fields in each heat. Bori Akinola (IRL) qualified 1st from heat 1 in 10.22 with event favourite Christian Miller (USA) comfortably qualifing from heat 2 in a fast 10.16. With the Stadium record standing at 10.12 the final was greatly anticipated. An hour or so later and the athletes were back in the blocks for the final – all 10 lanes full making for a wonderful spectacle. Akinola got off to bullet -like start, getting the entire stand up on their feet, at halfway Christian Miller hit the front driving on to take a magnificent win, the USA athlete clocking a red-hot time of 10.06. Not only was this a meet and Stadium record, consigning Yohan Blake to the history books, it was also the fastest 100 ever witnessed on Irish soil, a new allcomers record. Brazil’s Erik Cardoso was 2nd in 10.15 with Ireland’s Bori Akinola taking 3rd in 10.19.
Another, new for 2026, was the women’s international mixed class paragraph 100, generously sponsored by Allianz. This race drew a superb international field of global para medallists with athletes coming from as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Home town favourite Orla Comerford responded to the support from the sun-drenched fans, absolutely tearing down the straight winning by the proverbial country mile in a new T13 European record of 11.72. Germany’s Jule Ross, T46 took 2nd in 12.64 with New Zealander Anna Grimaldi, T47 running 12.76 to take 3rd place.
Emma Nwofor made it an Irish tour women’s 100 hurdles double, repeating her feat in Cork on Wednesday night, by winning the Davy sponsored event at Morton Games in 12.93. Nigeria’s Adaobi Tabugbo with 13.07 was 2nd and last year’s 2nd place finisher Selina Von Jackowski (SUI) took 3rd place 13.09.
Next on the track it was the 400s. There was an eagerly anticipated Loki sports men’s 400 with the return to action of Jack Raftery (IRL) facing another 2 sub 45 men in William Jones (USA) and Chidi Okezie (NGR). It was another brilliant race with the result not decided until the closing 10 m as Britain’s Sam Lunt kept his form to win in a fine 45.68, Jones took 2nd 45.73 with 2025 world indoor silver medallist Brian Faust (USA) 3rd in 45.74. Raftery took 4th place (45.88).
The Bon Secours Hospital Dublin sponsored women’s 400 had also attracted a top-class international field and delivered another exciting race. It was Polish athlete Kinga Gacka who came out on top winning a time of 52.49. Ireland’s Sophie Becker took 2nd place in a time of 52.65 and in 3rd place from the Bahamas was Printassia Jones, 53.09.
Meanwhile on the infield, and another new for 2026, was the women’s hammer competition, very generously sponsored by ‘friends of Irish throws’. This was always going to be one of the highlights of the night, featuring 2 time world champion and current Olympic champion Camryn Rogers (CAN) and World University and European U/23 silver medallist , 4 times Irish national champion Nicola Tuthill. It was the Olympic champion who got into the groove from the off, breaking the Morton Stadium record in her opening throw as she threw 75.07. In a very consistent manner Rogers threw over 75 m on all but 1 of her 6 throws, stretching out her longest on throw 6 to 75.97. Tuthill was also in superb form throwing over 70 m twice in the competition finishing on throw 6 with her best of 71.07 to take 2nd place. Norway’s Beatrice Llano for 3rd place with a best throw of 69.48.
The Whiteford Geo services men’s shot, right under the main stand, was another great spectacle, winner Wictor Petersson (SWE) took the lead in round 1 with 20.50, and then extended this in the final round to 20.64. Defending champion Nick Palmer (NZL) with a best of 19.72 took 2nd place with American visitor CJ Licata taking 3rd place with a best of 17.42. Ireland’s Eric Favors filled 4th position with 19.41.
The middle distance section of the meet kicked off with the DCU men’s 800 and although the times were a little slower than had been anticipated it was an intriguing race. After superb pacemaking Tibo De Smet (BEL) found himself metres clear of the field and was only chased down with the finish line in touching reach by fast the finishing Henry Jonas (GBR) in a time of 1.46.31, De Smet held on for 2nd 1.46.48 , with Cillian Kirwan (IRL) 3rd 1.47.27.
The Irish Life Dublin Marathon sponsored women’s 800 was another excellent race with 200 to go it looked like it was Nina Vukovic (CRO) who will take the win, only for Lucy Armitage (GBR) to hit the front coming off the top bend into the final straight but Vukovic battled hard to regain the lead take a fine win in 2.01.44, Armitage took 2nd 2.01.89 with her fellow Britain Grace Vans Agnew 3rd in 2.02.11. U/20 Irish athlete Saoirse Fitzgerald ran a big PB 6 place of 2.03.52.
The Albie Thomas Memorial 5000, sponsored by Dublin Athletics and the Albie Thomas family, was possibly the most anticipated race of the night with rumours of an attack on 13 minutes and the Irish record in the air. The stellar field included the cream of Irish distance running along with overseas national champions and national record holders. It was Aron Gebramariam, competing under the flag of the athlete refugee team, who made the first and it must be said a very brave move picking up the pace very ealy throwing in a 60 second Lap and opening a lead that began to grow and grow, at one stage he was possibly 30 m clear. He kept the tempo high throughout and it was only with 2 to go that his at one stage unassailable lead looked in danger. The chasing pack led by Ireland’s Nick Griggs and Darragh McElhinney, and Scott Beattie (GBR) began to take more serious interest in catching the young African athlete, the chase was well and truly on. Coming off the final bend Gebramariam’s lead had been slashed as McElhinney and Griggs sprinted to the line, but Gebramariam would not be denied and was rewarded for his bravery with an 11 second PB of 13.15.06 and more importantly the Albie Thomas Memorial 5000 champion for 2026. McElhinney in 2nd ran 13.15.90 with Griggs 13.16.19. 4th place finisher was Jonas Raess (SUI), Scott Beattie (GBR) was 5th 13.17.77, Jude Thomas (AUS) 613.1 7.98 and Brian Fay (IRL) 7th 13.18.32.
Penultimate race of the night was the Fashionflo women’s 1500 and what a race it was. Ireland’s Sophie O’Sullivan was in close order throughout the race and coming off the top bend she held the lead and was exceptionally strong in holding of all pursuers in a very close finish, roared on by the partisan crowd to take an excellent win in 4.08.26. Chloe Foerster (USA) was 2nd 4.08.47 and in 3rd Anne Gina Lovnes (NOR) 4.08.78.
That brought us then to the finale, the most famous race in Irish athletics, the Morton mile, generously supported by UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic with the deepest field of milers ever gathered. Before the starters gun the stadium paid tribute to three Irish Olympians and milers who passed away this year, Ronnie Delany, Gerry O’Reilly and Ciaran O’Lionard. Then it was the starters gun and excellent pacemaking that strung the field out to hit the 1000 mark precisely on schedule. As the pacemaker was gone that left Jack Anstey (AUS) at the head of the field, the pace was kept up at high tempo with the pre race favouites all gathering on Anstey’s shoulder. 200 to go it was 2018 Morton mile winner Sam Prakle (USA) who hit the front driving all across the top bend and down the home straight to take a famous win in a new Morton mile and Morton Stadium record of 3.50.97. Henry Mcluckie (GBR) ran a 2 second plus PB of 3.51.38 to take 2nd place with Davies Bove (USA), 3rd in 3.52.23. Cathal Doyle of the promoting club Clonliffe Harriers, took 4th place 3.52.26. As Prakle took the appreciative applause of the crowd the results appeared revealing that the 16th place finisher Colin P Smith (IRL) had clocked a time of 3.58.34. Unbelievably the entire field of the 2026 Morton mile – all 16 – had recorded sub- four-minute miles. This bettered the previous Morton mile record of 13 sub fours of 2024 putting the Morton Mile up there with the the 1999 Golden Gala in Rome, Bruxelles 2000, the 2012 Bowerman mile and the 2013 Emsley Carr Mile all recording 16 sub 4s. The record is 17, at the ISTAF Meet Berlin.
Friday’s 16 sub 4s puts the running total of sub 4 Morton miles up to 204.
Morton Games also on the night paid tribute to Ireland’s 1976 Montréal Olympians, Eddie Leddy, Mary Purcell, Danny McDaid, Neil Cusack and Eamonn Coghlan with a special presentation marking the 50th anniversary of their competing at those Olympic Games.
Morton Games would like to thank our partners: Athletics Ireland, Dublin City University, Sport Ireland, Fingal Clonliffe Harriers. Our amazing sponsors: Allianz, UPMC SSC, Dublin Athletics, Athletics Leinster, Bon Secours Hospital Dublin, Jerry Kiernan Foundation, Fashionflo, Davy, Whiteford Geo Services, Irish life Dublin Marathon, Loki sports, the Albie Thomas family, Last Lap Café, Friends of Irish Throws and Friends of Morton Games for their support and generosity.
We are already looking forward to 2027. See you next July!