Irish Stars Assemble as the Morton Games Returns to Dublin Tomorrow

The World Athletics Continental Tour returns to Ireland for the second and final time this season on Friday evening as the Morton Games takes centre stage at Morton Stadium in Santry. Widely regarded as one of Europe's premier one day athletics meetings, the Continental Tour Bronze fixture has once again attracted an outstanding mix of Irish talent and international stars across the sprint, middle distance and field events.

Following Wednesday's successful Cork City Sports meeting, attention now turns to Dublin, where European Championship qualification marks, valuable world ranking points and fast times will once again be on offer. Among the Irish athletes in action are Bori Akinola, Sean Aigboboh, Sophie Becker, Sophie O'Sullivan, Brian Fay, Nick Griggs, Jack Raftery, Cillian Kirwan, Nicola Tuthill and Orla Comerford, alongside Olympic champions, world medallists and national record holders from around the globe.

Gates open at 4.30pm, with the main programme running from 6.30pm until 9.00pm. Adult tickets are priced at €15, while under 16s go free. You can purchase tickets here: Morton Games tickets.

Below is an event by event look at the key Irish athletes to watch on the main card, along with the leading international contenders they will face.

Please note: This preview is based on the start lists available at the time of publication. As is common on the Continental Tour, athletes may withdraw before the meeting due to travel, illness, injury or changes to their competition schedule.

Women's High Jump

The Women's High Jump opens the main programme at 6.30pm and promises an excellent contest, with three Irish athletes taking on a field packed with international experience. Irish hopes rest with Siún Quinn, who arrives in outstanding form after equalling her personal best of 1.85m this season, alongside Daena Kealy, who has cleared 1.83m, and Aoife O'Sullivan, another consistent performer on the domestic circuit with a best of 1.81m.

The international field is headed by Great Britain's Morgan Lake, a former Commonwealth champion and one of Britain's most decorated high jumpers, whose personal best of 2.00m makes her the standout athlete in the competition. Czech international Michaela Hrubá, who has cleared 1.95m, Guinea national record holder Fatoumaa Balley (1.93m), Portugal's Anabela Neto and Great Britain's Laura Zialor add further depth to what promises to be a high quality opening event on the main programme.

Women's Hammer Throw

The Women's Hammer Throw makes its Morton Games debut with one of the strongest fields assembled anywhere in Europe this summer. Irish hopes rest with four time national champion Nicola Tuthill, whose personal best of 72.48 ranks her among Europe's leading young throwers, while fellow Irish athlete Margaret Hayden also takes her place in the competition.

The field is headed by Olympic and two time world champion Camryn Rogers of Canada, whose outstanding personal best of 81.13 makes her the clear favourite. Norway's Beatrice Llano, Great Britain's Charlotte Payne and Germany's Samantha Borutta add further international quality to an exceptionally strong competition.

Men's 100m

One of the headline events of the evening could also produce history, with four athletes in the field having broken the ten second barrier during their careers. Irish interest is led by reigning national champion Bori Akinola, who continues his pursuit of the European Championships qualifying standard after lowering his personal best to 10.19 earlier this season. Joining him is Irish 200m record holder Sean Aigboboh, alongside an exciting group of home sprinters including Luca Logue Fonseca, Emmanuel Akinrolie, Jesse Osas, Michael Farrelly, Runo Ayavoro, Nkemjika Onmumereh, Alamin Bankole and Lucas Fadden.

The international field is stacked with quality. Brazilian record holder Erik Cardoso and compatriot Felipe Bardi have both dipped below ten seconds, while American teenage sensation Christian Miller and Japanese Olympian Abdul Hakim Sani Brown bring world class credentials. Returning Morton Games champion Coby Hilton, Slovenia's in form Anej Prapotnik and Bahamian Ian Kerr add even more depth to what promises to be one of the races of the night

Women's Mixed Para 100m

The Morton Games introduces a Women's Mixed Para 100m for the first time, with a field packed full of Paralympic and World Championship medallists.

World champion Orla Comerford headlines the Irish challenge after setting a lifetime best of 11.76 last weekend, while fellow World Championship finalist Lana Sutton also takes to the start line. They will face formidable opposition from New Zealand Paralympic champion Anna Grimaldi, Australia's Rhiannon Clarke, Hungary's Luca Ekler and Great Britain's Paris Paralympic bronze medallist Didi Okoh

Women's 100m Hurdles

The Women's 100m Hurdles has attracted another high quality international field, with Irish interest resting on promising young hurdlers Orlaith Mannon and Abigail Farrell.

Great Britain's Emma Nwofor leads the entries with a personal best of 12.86, while Nigeria's Adaobi Tabugbo, Serbia's Milica Emini, Poland's Marika Majewska and Germany's Hawa Jalloh are all expected to challenge for victory in what should be one of the closest races on the programme

Men's 400m

The Men's 400m has regularly produced memorable moments at Morton Games and this year's edition looks no different. Irish hopes are led by Jack Raftery, who became the first Irishman to break 45 seconds when he clocked 44.98, while Sean Doggett and Andrew Egan complete a strong home line up.

A world class international field awaits them, headed by World Indoor silver medallist Brian Faust of the United States. Nigerian champion Chidi Okezie, Czech international Matej Krsek, Britain's Sam Lunt and American William Jones all possess personal bests capable of threatening the stadium record.

Women's 400m

Ireland's outstanding strength in the one lap event is again on display in the Women's 400m. Two time Olympian Sophie Becker heads the home challenge after another excellent season, with fellow Irish internationals Rachel McCann, Jenna Breen and rising star Erin Friel also taking to the track.

The overseas challenge is led by Bahamian champion Printassia Johnson, who owns the fastest personal best in the field at 50.53. Great Britain's Poppy Malik, Italy's Ilaria Accame and Poland's Kinga Gacka all arrive with extensive championship relay experience, ensuring another high quality contest.

Women's 800m

The Women's 800m brings together a strong blend of Irish talent and international experience. Reigning Irish indoor champion Hannah Segrave and current national outdoor champion Alex O'Neill renew their rivalry after sharing the domestic titles over the past year. Joining them are the ever improving Emma Moore, who lowered her personal best to 2:00.71 earlier this season, and promising Under 20 athlete Saoirse Fitzgerald.

Among the overseas contenders are Czech champion Kimberley Ficenec, Croatia's nine time national champion Nina Vuković and Belgian indoor champion Laure Bilo. Great Britain is also well represented by Lucy Armitage, Grace Vans Agnew and Khahisa Mhlanga, ensuring another fast and competitive two lap contest.

Men's 800m

The Men's 800m looks set to be one of the races of the evening, with several athletes arriving in excellent form. Irish hopes are led by national indoor champion Cillian Kirwan, who recently lowered his personal best to 1:45.63, while Nathan Cremin continues his impressive return from the United States after another breakthrough season. Former Morton Games winner John Fitzsimons also makes a welcome return following an injury interrupted spell, while Northern Ireland's Andrew Thompson completes a strong home contingent.

The international field is headed by Britain's Henry Jonas, whose 1:44.10 personal best makes him the fastest athlete in the race. Belgian Olympian Tibo De Smet, fellow Belgian Timo Inghelbrecht, Portugal's David Garcia and American trio Garrett O'Toole, Patrick Hilby and David Cardenas ensure the pace should be honest from the gun.

Men's 5000m

The Albie Thomas Memorial 5000m once again promises to be one of the highlights of the meeting, honouring the legendary Australian distance runner who set a world three mile record at Santry in 1958. This year's field is packed with quality and features many of Ireland's leading distance athletes.

National record holder Brian Fay leads the Irish entries after another outstanding season, while European Under 23 cross country champion Nick Griggs arrives in excellent form following his breakthrough year on the track. Former national champion Darragh McElhinney, rising Mullingar Harriers star Jack O'Leary, Callum Morgan, Cormac Dalton and Shay McEvoy complete an exceptionally strong Irish line up.

The international challenge is equally impressive. Great Britain's Scott Beattie returns after winning this race in 2023, while Swiss record holder Jonas Raess, Australia's Jude Thomas, Norway's Sondre Moen and Ethiopian debutant Yismaw Dillu are all expected to feature prominently. With the stadium record standing at 13:12.44, another exceptionally quick race could be on the cards.

Women's 1500m

The Women's 1500m has consistently produced one of the standout races at Morton Games, and another fast contest looks likely on Friday evening. NCAA champion and European Under 23 gold medallist Sophie O'Sullivan headlines the Irish challenge after another excellent season and owns one of the quickest personal bests in the field.

She is joined by European Under 23 bronze medallist Eimear Maher, Laura Nicholson, Ava O'Connor and Irish indoor champion Lucy Holmes, giving Ireland one of its strongest middle distance line ups of the evening.

Canadian Olympian Simone Plourde heads the international entries, while American Taryn Rawlings, Dutch athlete Amina Maatoug, Germany's Jolanda Kallabis and Great Britain's Cari Hughes are among a deep field capable of challenging the stadium record set just twelve months ago. Another tactical championship style race appears unlikely, with all the ingredients in place for a fast finish and potentially more qualifying marks.

Morton Mile

The Morton Mile once again brings the curtain down on the meeting, with one of Ireland's most iconic races set to provide a fitting finale to the World Athletics Continental Tour's return to Irish soil. The event has a rich history of producing fast times and memorable finishes, and this year's field suggests another thrilling conclusion is in store.

Irish hopes are led by Cathal Doyle, who owns the quickest personal best in the home contingent at 3:51.26 and returns to Santry after narrowly missing the European Championship qualifying standard over 1500m last week. He is joined by Ronan McMahon Staggs, James Gormley, Liam Lyons, James Dunne and Colin P Smith, giving Ireland six athletes capable of mixing it with an exceptionally deep international field.

The overseas challenge is headed by Great Britain's Adam Fogg, the fastest athlete in the field with a 3:49.62 personal best and a World Cross Country bronze medallist. American Sam Prakel also arrives in excellent form after running 3:32.76 for 1500m this season and winning the FBK Games in Hengelo, while Australia's Thomas Diamond, Jack Anstey and Jackson Sharp add further strength to the field. Great Britain's Henry McLuckie, American Davis Bove and Dutch athlete Noah Baltus complete a stacked line up that should ensure another fast and fitting finale beneath the lights at Morton Stadium.

With Olympians, world medallists and many of Ireland's leading athletes all set to compete, another memorable night of athletics awaits at Morton Stadium as Ireland's World Athletics Continental Tour campaign comes to a close for another year.

Adult tickets are priced at €15, while under 16s go free. You can purchase tickets here: Morton Games tickets.