Athletics (Men)

Backroom Team: Patsy McGonagle (manager, team leader); Sean Naughton (coach); Michael Lane (walk coach); Dr Zbigniew Orywel (field events coach); Maeve Kyle (coach).

Paul Brizzel (Age: 23; Event: 100/200m and 4x100m relay) - Made breakthrough last year when he clocked 20.74 seconds for the 200m and claimed first national record this year when he clocked 20.54. He followed it up with 10.35 in the 100m and won his first national title in the 200m at Santry.

Personal Best (PB): 10.35, 20.54 (both national records). First outings: 100 - Friday, 22nd (heats). 200 - Wednesday, 27th (heats).

Tomas Coman (Age: 21; Event: 400m, 4x400m) - Won the national 400m title in 1997 and qualified for the finals of the World Junior Championships in '98. Became only the second Irishman to dip under 46 seconds (45.84) and claimed the national title last month in 46.56, a championship record.

PB: 45.84; First outing - Friday, 22nd.

David Matthews (Age: 28; Event: 800m) - Dominated domestic 800m running and holds the national record of 1:44.82. Reached the semi-finals of the Atlanta Olympics. Injured earlier this season.

PB: 1:44.82 (Irish record). First outing: Saturday, 23rd.

James Nolan (Age: 23; Event: 1,500m) - Reached the World Championship 800m semi-finals last year, but made a breakthrough at 1,500m at the European Indoor Championships last March in 3:41.59. Improved his best outdoors to 3:36.30 in Gateshead last month and won the national title at 800m.

PB: 3:36.30. First outing: Monday, 25th.

Mark Carroll (Age: 28; Event: 5,000m) - Holds Irish records at every distance from 3,000 to 10,000m. Shot into the top echelon of world rankings with a time of 13:13.94 in his first serious try at 5,000m in 1995, but injury ruled him out of the Atlanta Olympics. Won bronze in the 5,000m at the 1998 European Championships in Budapest. Ran into difficulties a low blood count last season, but he won gold in this year's European Indoor 3,000m.

PB: 13:03.93 (Irish record). First outing - Wednesday, 27th.

Peter Coghlan (Age: 25; Event: 110m Hurdles) - Set a series of national records last season, ending with 13.30. Was edged out of the World Championship final by 0.03 of a second. Laid low by a groin injury this season, but won his third national title last month.

PB: 13.30 (Irish record); First outing: Sunday, 24th.

Tom McGuirk (Age: 29; Event: 400m Hurdles) - The San Franciscan with an Irish father (former Dublin hurler Paddy McGuirk) broke the Irish record for the third time in 1996 (49.99), competed for Ireland in Atlanta and two years later advanced to the semi-finals of the European Championships.

PB: 49.73 (Irish record). First outing: Sunday, 24th.

Brendan Reilly (Age: 27; Event: High Jump) - The Yorkshire man with Irish parents took 13th at the Barcelona Olympics for Britain. Had set a world best for a 15-year-old of 2.11 metres when he won the BLOE title in Tullamore. Won the right to represent Ireland last year and won the Irish title. Wearing the green vest he reached the World Championships final last year.

PB: 2.29m (Irish Record); First outing: Friday, 22nd.

Nicky Sweeney (Age: 32; Event: Discus) Competed in Barcelona and Atlanta, but has struggled to regain consistent form since his sixth in the 1993 World Championships and fourth at the European Championships in 1994. However he threw 67.89m in August 1998 - a medal-winning distance at any recent Games.

PB: 67.89m (Irish Record). First outing: Sunday, 24th.

John Menton (Age: 30; Event: Discus) - Has juggled life as a solicitor and an athlete. Was based in the US until recently, and achieved the A-standard for Sydney with a throw of 63.70 metres in New Jersey.

PB: 63.70m; First outing: Sunday, 24th.

Terry McHugh (Age: 36; Event: Javelin) - Facing into his fourth summer Games, he recently brought his tally of national titles to 17. Earned his ticket to Sydney with a throw of 82.75m in August. PB: 82.75m (Irish Record). First outing: Friday, 22nd.

Paddy McGrath (Age: 29; Event: Hammer) - Won three All-American Awards when at Manhattan College. Threw 77.49 two years ago, just short of Declan Hegarty's national record.

PB: 77.49m. First outing: Saturday, 23rd.

Robert Heffernan (Age: 22; Event: 20km Walk) - Targeted the 20km race at the European Cup in June to seek out the Astandard and achieved his goal despite being ill the week before.

PB: 1:22.43; First outing: Friday, 22nd.

Jamie Costin (Age: 23; Event: 50km Walk) - Became the first Irishman to break the four-hour barrier at the European Cup in June (3:59.01), also gaining the Olympic Astandard. Has battled with leg injuries.

PB: 3:59.01 (Irish record); First outing: Friday, 29th.

Gary Ryan (Age: 28; Event: 4x100m, 4x400m) - Qualified for the second round of the 200m in Atlanta but was disappointed with his performance. Won the National 100m and 200m titles in 1999.

PB: 10.45.

John McAdorey (Age: 25; Event: 4x100m) - Won the Northern Ireland 100m title last year after a four-year break.

PB: 10.53.

Mark Howard (Age: 20; Event: 4x100m) - Won the National Junior 100m title as well as the indoor 60m title last year.

PB: 10.54.

Tom Comyns (Age: 27; Event: 4x100m) - Clocked 10.75 and 21.07 for the 100m and 200m respectively in 1997.

PB: 10.54.

Donal McCarthy (Age: 28; Event: 4x100m) - Set a new national indoor record over 60m (6.81 seconds), following that with the National Indoor title.

PB: 10.60. 4x100 first outing: Friday, 29th.

Paul McKee (Age: 23; Event: 4x400m) - Reached the semi-final of the World Student Games last year with rounds of 47.08 and 47.09. He has a personal best of 21.30 for 200m.

PB: 46.06.

Paul Opperman (Age: 21; Event: 4x400m) - National Junior champion over 100m in 1997 and 1998 and National Under-23 champion in 1999.

PB: 46.79.

Gordon Kennedy (Age: 19; Event: 4x400m) - Recently ran an exciting 46.70 and is bound for the World Student Games. After the Olympics will run the 400m at the World Junior Championships in Chile.

PB: 46.70.

Robert Daly (Age: 22; Event: 4x400m) - Moved up to the 400m for the first time this season.

PB: 47.17. 4x400 first outing: Friday, 29th.