Sarah Healy is set to make her long awaited return to competition on Thursday evening when the Irish star lines up in the women's 5000m at the Rome Diamond League.
The race will mark Healy's first appearance since the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last September, bringing an end to an absence of almost nine months from competitive action.
While the UCD Athlete is best known for her success over 1500m and 3000m, her return comes in a somewhat unexpected event. Healy has been named for the women's 5000m, a distance she has raced only sparingly during her senior career and one she has not contested on the track since 2020.
That makes Thursday's race one of the more intriguing appearances of the evening from an Irish perspective.
The timing of her return is particularly fitting. Rome was the scene of one of the biggest moments of Healy's career last season when she claimed her first Diamond League victory, producing a sensational win over 1500m in the Italian capital.
This time, however, the challenge will be very different.
The 5000m field is packed with world class talent. Ethiopia will have a formidable presence through athletes such as Medina Eisa, Freweyni Hailu, Likina Amebaw, Senayet Getachew and Hirut Meshesha, while Italy's Nadia Battocletti will be looking to deliver a memorable performance in front of a home crowd.
Irish athletics fans have had little opportunity to see Healy in competitive action since Tokyo. Thursday's race should provide the first real indication of where the European Indoor champion stands as the summer season begins to gather momentum.
Healy will not be the only Irish athlete in action in the Italian capital.
Mark English is also set to line up in the men's 800m as he continues what has already been an impressive Diamond League campaign.
Mark English will be again flying the flag for Ireland in Rome, as he is set for his third Diamond League appearance of the season.
The Donegal athlete enjoyed a dream start to his outdoor campaign when he stormed to victory in Shanghai last month, producing one of the standout performances of his career, becoming the first Irish male to win a Diamond League event.
His second Diamond League outing in Rabat proved less fruitful as he finished towards the back of the field, but Rome presents another opportunity to test himself against some of the world's best.
The field includes former world champion Donavan Brazier, American star Bryce Hoppel, French standout Gabriel Tual and reigning world 1500m champion Isaac Nader. Despite the quality of opposition, English arrives with one of the strongest credentials in the race and will be aiming to put himself firmly in contention once again.
English is scheduled to take to the track at 8:15pm Irish time, with Healy following in the women's 5000m at 8:38pm. Coverage will be available on Virgin Media 4 in Ireland and BBC Three in the UK from 8:00pm to 10:00pm.
With Healy making her eagerly awaited return and English continuing his strong start to the season, Irish athletics fans will have plenty to keep an eye on when the Diamond League heads to the Eternal City on Thursday evening.
