Three-time Olympic medalist and former World Champion Carmelita Jeter will compete in the AIT International Arena Grand Prix on February 18. The American sprinter will run in the 60m event.
Jeter, the second-fastest woman of all time, joins Asafa Powell and Mutaz Barshim in what is building up to be a star-studded evening in the Athlone venue. Jeter currently holds three of the top 10 fastest times ever run.
A silver medalist over 60m at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in 2010, Jeter’s PB at that distance is 7.02 secs. The 34-year-old was 100m World Champion in 2011, winning silver over 200m the following year. At the London Olympics she garnered bronze in the 200m, as well as gold in the record-breaking 4x100m relay.
The participants for the hugely anticipated Deloitte Mile were also announced today. Vying to be the first man to run sub-four minutes indoor in Ireland are Ciaran O’Lionaird, Eoin Everard, John Travers, John Coghlan, Conor Bradley, Danny Mooney, Joe Warne, Ben Blankenship, and James O’Hare.
O’Lionaird ran the mile in 3:52.10 at the Armory Track, New York in February 2013 and will surely be looking to repeat that form in Athlone. The Leevale AC athlete endured heartbreak at the European Championships last summer, when he was taken out in the 1500m final. The previous year, he came third in the 3,000m at the European Athletics Indoor Championships.
University athlete of the year John Travers will be hoping that the return to his alma mater will be a successful one. The sport management graduate ran the fastest ever debutant sub-four minute mile on Irish soil when he clocked 3:55 for the distance.
AIT president, Prof Ciarán Ó Catháin, said: “We have a really super field of athletes lined up for the grand prix next month, and we’ll be making further announcements in the coming days. There is a great sense of excitement about the event, which we’re confident will be a sellout.”
Tickets for the AIT International Arena Grand Prix can be purchased online at www.aitsport.ie, priced at €20 and €10, excluding handling charge.
