Gillick’s 400m best the perfect Euro boost

DAVID GILLICK will go to the European championships in Gothenburg in two weeks’ time oozing confidence after his performance at the Woodies DIY national track and field championships in Morton Stadium yesterday.

He posted another personal best performance at 45.67 secs to win the 400m title in a spectacular finish with national record holder Paul McKee, who finished second in 45.96 secs.

If there was a cloud over the other European indoor 3,000m champion, Alistair Cragg, in recent weeks there was also something of a mystery surrounding the European indoor 400m champion, whose recent runs had all been outside 46 secs. But he put all that behind him with a power-packed performance that saw him come back at McKee after the Belfast man had stolen the lead out of the blocks.

“There had been worrying moments in the past few weeks but after a session with my coach, Jim Kidd, on Wednesday he told me I was a lot better than a 46 sec runner and I think he was proved right today,” a delighted Gillick said.

He will round off preparations for the European championships at the Dublin International next Saturday night. “I don’t think I will need another race,” he said. “The plan all along was to peak for Gothenburg and that’s where we are now.

“The fact that I ran a PB today is very encouraging. When I ran that PB in Geneva I was told it was a fast track and people might not run as fast again but I have run faster today,” he said.

David McCarthy also ran a seasonal best for third place in 46.76, but Paul Brizzel’s attempt for a sprint double never got out of the blocks. After winning the 200m on Saturday he was favourite to take the 100m yesterday but he false-started twice and was disqualified. Victory went to young Darragh Graham (Sli Cualann) in 10.91 secs from schoolboy sprinter Jason Smyth (City of Derry) 10.94 and David Hynes (Menapians) 11.14.

Kerry Proper (Ferrybank) produced a new championship best performance to win the women’s long jump with a best of 6.32m but all of her legal attempts were over six metres.

A team of more than 30 athletes will be named today for the European Championships but there will be some notable faces missing. Mark Carroll, who had qualified at 10,000m, announced his retirement from track running. Karen Shinkins has abandoned her hopes of regaining fitness in time to take her place in the 400m. Sprinter Paul Hession is also injured and middle distance runners Maria McCambridge and Joelene Byrne will be missing while Sonia O’Sullivan abandoned her hopes of competing.