Top class athletes to compete on Sunday in AIT

Some top class international athletes will compete in the Woodie's DIY Athletics Ireland Open Indoor Games which take place on Sunday next at the new Athlone IT indoor arena. Among the highest profile competitors will be Olympic fourth placed finisher Robert Heffernan who will take part in the Men's 3,000 metre walk, due off at 12.30pm. From the international competitors, keep an eye out for 2007 European Indoor 1,500m champion Juan Higuero who is among three Spaniards competing in the 3,000 metres (4pm). He was also a double bronze medalist in the outdoor European Championship in 2006, over 1,500m and 5,000m. Athlone IT student John Travers will lead the home charge in the race. Reigning outdoor 800m national champion Siobhan Eviston has big aspirations for the 2013 season and will look to kick start her season in style on Sunday. The Athletics Ireland performance standard for the European Indoor championships of 2:03.50 a distinct possibility. The home athletes will have to contend with German athlete Jana Hartmann who has an 800m PB of 2:02.30. The race is timed for 4.40pm European 400m finalist Brian Gregan headlines the men's 400m field on Sunday. The Dublin athlete's major target for the winter is the European Indoor Championships set for Goteborg, Sweden in March. Gregan will face off against Dutch athlete Bjorn Blauwhof, who has an outdoor personal best of 46.69 and Tom Druce of Great Britain at 3.30pm. Irish long jump record holder Kelly Proper makes her long awaited return in her specialist event and will also run the 60 metres. The action on Sunday gets underway at 11.30am on the track with the men's and women's 60m and the field event programme begins with the men's pole vault at 12.10pm.