Belfast International Event Preview Mens Hammer

With three of the already entered competitors having posted performances in excess of the Meeting Record, it seems highly likely that the grass beyond the 70 metres line will be hammered (pun intended) by the 7.26 kilogram metal balls.

 

Leading the current entry is Welsh Champion and Commonwealth Games representitive Oisin Jones. Oisin in no stranger to Mary Peters Track having won here in 2017 and with a best of 73.89m, he will be hoping to erase Chris Bennett from the record books. Oisin will be joined by fellow Welshman Jac Palmer, a runner up here last year, Jac went on to win the Manchester International and British Universities title. The third man crossing the pond is the English Under 23 Champion Ben Hawkes. The Under 23 European finalist and former English and UK School Games Champion will be hoping to go over 70 metres for the first time.

 

Providing the home opposition are Dempsey McGuigan and Brendan O'Donnell. Dempsey, currently based in the USA, is a two time Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games athlete having finished 6th in 2018 and having already achieved the consideration standard with a 73.32 metres throw in Aberdeen last season, he will be hoping to impress the selectors and pick up his third Commonwealth vest in Birmingham in July.

 

Completing the current lineup is the young up and coming Lifford and Strabane athlete Brendan O'Donnell. Despite being only 22 Brendan has already got Northern Ireland and Ulster and Irish Senior titles on his palmares.

 

Given that the hammers will be hurtling almost the full length of the infield spectators may well feel they are at a tennis match as they follow the implements from one end of the ground to the other. Certainly any infield photographers will have to keep their wits about them.