Athletics: proper battle as Kelly will take on Trotter

Athlete Kelly Proper

Ferrybank’s Kelly Proper will take on the aptly-named Dee Trotter in a star-studded women’s 200m at next Tuesday’s Cork City Sports at the CIT.

Trotter  is the founder of Test Me I’m Clean, a non-profit operation that advocates for drug-free athletics. Proper most recently ran 23.24 secs for 200m and has also signed  up  for the 100m and the long jump.

An intriguing entry for the men’s 200m is USA athlete Paralympic T44 world record holder Richard Browne from the USA. Browne is aiming to qualify for the Rio Olympics. Among his rivals next Tuesday will be Clonliffe’s Brian Gregan and a number of strong American and West Indian sprinters.

In the men’s 800m, UCD’s Mark English takes on the Australian Joshua Ralph, Tomas Timoranski of Slovakia, Andreas Bude  of Denmark and the American Michael Rutt. Niall Tuohy of Ferrybank and  Tallaght’s Anthony Lieghio also run.

With UCD’s Ciara Everard away at the World University Games, Laura Crowe of Riocht and Katie Kirk  of Lagan Valley lead the local challenge in the women’s 800m. Crowe came close to breaking the two-minute barrier when she ran 2:00.93 in 2013 and is showing good form this season, with a 2:03.95 to her credit so far.  Kirk has a personal best of 2:02.63 secs from last year.

Also away at the World University Games  is  hurdler Thomas Barr, which means that Jason Harvey and Paul Byrne lead the home entry in the 400m hurdles.