Gillick award boost

DAVID GILLICK received a welcome boost following his World Indoor Championships nightmare as he was named Europe’s Male Athlete for February.

The 26-year-old Dubliner returned to his training base at Loughborough on Monday devastated following his 400m final disqualification in Doha, where the IAAF’s Jury of Appeal ruled he caused the clash that probably cost both him and favourite, Jamaal Jackson, places on the podium.

Gillick, a former two-time European indoor 400m champion, secured the award for his sensational seasonal indoor debut at the UK Grand Prix in Birmingham where he demolished a star-studded field and equalled the national record he set (45.52) when retaining his European title at the same venue in 2007.

It makes him the fastest European over the distance this season.

Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey was voted the European Female Athlete for February. A multiple Olympic and world medallist, she made a sparkling Half Marathon debut setting a course record and world-leading time of 1:07:07 in the United Arab Emirates.

European Athletics names a male and female winner each month. Selections are based on votes by the public, media and a panel of European experts.