Morton Games 2015: Mile Records Could Fall in Ireland

Morton Games 2015: Mile Records Could Fall in Ireland

Jul 23, 2015 by Meg Bellino
Morton Games 2015: Mile Records Could Fall in Ireland


The Morton Games is one of the premier track and field events in Ireland and it will be streamed live here tomorrow on July 24th, beginning at 12pm CT. Robby Andrews will show off his speed in the 800m, while Will Geoghegan will look to get another Irish win in the 3000m after his Cork City mile win. One of the most thrilling events in track and field, the mile, will feature exciting fields that hope to end the 2015 Morton Games on a thrilling note. Full entries for the event can be found here.

Women’s Mile, 2:46pm CT

The women’s mile pits the veterans against the newcomers in Ireland. OTC Elite’s Aisha Praught brings her 4:05 1500m speed against new Bowerman TC athlete Shelby Houlihan, who has been enjoying much success in her first summer in Europe. Houlihan has run 2:02 twice this summer and recently lowered her 1500m PB to 4:09.62.

Praught was third in this race in 2014, a race where Molly Huddle ran the stadium record of 4:26.84 for the win. She recently paced Tunisia’s Habiba Ghribi to a new world lead of 9:11 in the Monaco Diamond League steeplechase and looks to be the favorite in this race. She has not raced a 1500m since winning the Jamaica Champs in 4:15, so this will be a nice chance for her to get some speed work. But with a fast pace, Houlihan could get her first European win.



Men's Morton Mile, 3pm CT


Could the Morton Stadium record be in danger tomorrow? Will Leer set the 3:51.82 record in 2014 and a fleet of Americans will put their fitness to the test at 3pm CT. Watch Leer's race from last year below.



Riley Masters ran an indoor mile PB this winter in Boston, running 3:56.15, just a hair faster than his outdoor best of 3:56.75. After running a 1500m PB of 3:36 at the Portland Summer Twilight, then almost matching it in Heusden, Masters looks to run away with the win at Morton.

Ford Palmer is having a great 2015, setting new personal best marks in the 800m, 1500m, mile and 3000m. His 3:36 from Heusden is a good indication that a new mile PB could be in his near future.

Jordan McNamara is fresh off a 3:37 season best in Heusden and should be in the mix with Masters and Palmer. Polish runner and former Eastern Michigan standout Gregor Kalinowski trains with Nick Willis in Ann Arbor, Mich., and has improved tremendously in 2015, pacing Willis to a near PB in the 5000m at the adidas Grand Prix, and running 3:38 in June.