NIALL BRUTON gets the opportunity to reduce his best time for 800 metres, which currently stands at just under one minute 49 seconds, when he lines up at the West athletic Games on his home track at Morton Stadium tomorrow.

Bruton will need to be at his best if he is to repel the challenge offered by Daniel Caulfield, who is still chasing the Olympic qualifying standard at the distance. The greatest threat to an Irish victory would appear to come from Eddy Kiernel of the Netherlands, who is the fastest in the field.

Nenagh's Gary Ryan has been in devastating form in the sprints in the last two weeks, with the Irish 100m record now numbered among his conquests. He will be given an opportunity to reduce that time of 10.56 seconds still further, as Britain's Julian Golding, who has run faster, will push him. Ryan will also be in action in the 200 metres. In Riga last weekend he made the Olympic standard in that event.

Among the most competitive races is certain to be the women's 3,000 metres. The race gives Katy McCandless the first opportunity to run in this country since she changed her allegiance from the United States, the country of her birth and for whom she competed in the World Championships three years ago. Conceicao Ferreira of Portugal appears to be the favourite.

On the field, Mark Mandy will seek to continue his winning streak but Antoine Burke and Kevin Keane would welcome the opportunity of lowering his colours. Holland's Corrie de Bruin, whose older brother, Erik, coaches Irish swimmer Michelle Smith, will display her talents in the discus and with British international Jacqui McKernan also in the field it is possible that the 60 metre barrier will be broken.

Dublin city centre will be a busy place tomorrow with over 25,000 women competing in the Dunnes Stores/Evening Herald women's mini marathon.