COACH Nick Dakin is looking for a winning performance from David Gillick in this morning’s first-round heats of the 400m at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona to ensure a good lane draw for the semi-finals.

Hurdling star Derval O'Rourke warmed up for her Barcelona bid by securing her eighth national title in the 100m hurdles on the final day of the Woodie's DIY National Senior Track & Field Championships in Santry.

DAVID McCARTHY (Le Cheile) posted his qualifying standard for the European Championships when he won the 800m in 1:48.18 at the Irish Milers’ Club races held in conjunction with the schools championships in Tullamore on Saturday.

SPEEDSTERS Derval O’Rourke and Paul Hession head up a strong Irish side to travel to Budapest for the second European Team Championships on June 19-20.

Paul Hession, the big draw on the second and final day of the Woodie's DIY Senior Track and Field Championships in Santry, was forced to withdraw from the 100 metres today due to illness.

IRELAND’S men’s under-23 team are capable of winning medals at this year’s European Cross-Country Championships, according to Mark Carroll.

Current world champion Betty Heidler posted a winning throw of 72.43 metres in a class-laden hammer event at Friday night's Morton Memorial meeting in Santry.

SUZANNE HUET (Dundrum/South Dublin) achieved her qualifying standard for the European junior championships when she won the 5,000m in 16:52.67 at yesterday’s national junior and under-23 championships in Tullamore.

VINNY MULVEY (Raheny Shamrock) made the 100-metre trip from his apartment to claim the National inter-club cross-country championship title in spectacular fashion at Santry Demesne on Saturday from young Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers) and his flatmate, Killian Lonergan.

RACHEL AKERS (Scariff CC), who won both the senior girls discus and hammer at the Kit Kat Irish schools championships in Tullamore last year, begins to defend her titles at CIT in Bishopstown tomorrow at the Kit Kat Munster schools championships, starting at 9.30am.