Top Class international athletics returns to Athlone Institute of Technology again this February. The 2017 AIT International Grand Prix is guaranteed to be a sell-out for the fourth year in a row as athletics fans across the country avail of the opportunity to witness some of the world’s best talent on show in the midlands arena.
In the past this event has been blessed to have European, World and Olympic Champions, some of whom have broken meet, all-comers and continental records.
Indeed in 2015 Mutaz Essa Barshim, in a scintillating performance, had three attempts at the World Indoor high jump record. Sub 4-minute miles have become de rigueur in the men’s mile while four of the women’s 1500m field ran the World Indoor qualifying standard in 2016.
World Champions Shawn Barber (pole vault) and Pavel Maslak (400m) both competed to amazing levels in 2016 alongside World 800m silver medallist Melissa Bishop.
As the fields for the 2017 event are currently being finalised, another amazing night of indoor athletics is promised with some of the sport’s biggest international and domestic names converging on Athlone.
Definitely confirmed are Sally Pearson who holds Olympic and World Championship gold medals in the 100m hurdles and Mutaz Essa Barshim. Two of Ireland’s biggest talents, Ciara Mageen and Mark English, are also on the start list. English is currently preparing for an attempt at the world 600m record at the Grand Prix.
AIT president, Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, said: “We have a really top field of athletes lined up again for the Grand Prix in February. The fields will be filled with an even deeper level of talent than we have ever had before and that is saying something. We are very excited about the event as are many athletics fans in Ireland.
“Ticket prices are very competitive again this year. There are not many events in the world where you will witness such top class sportspeople at such prices”.
Assistant Meet Director, Gordon Brett, believes that, “the event can break into the top 10 indoor athletics meets in the world this year. We achieved an amazing ranking of 14th in the world in 2016 from a list of 600 similar events”.
The recent Olympic Games were good to athletes who have appeared at the Grand Prix in past years. Nine athletes who have appeared at the Grand Prix won medals in Rio.
