McKee to run against odds after lane draw

IRELAND’s Paul McKee must launch his European Championship campaign from lane nine when the first-round heats of the 400 metres get under way today.

This is the first time in the history of the European championships that the remote, outside-lane has been used in a 400m. In fact, not many tracks enjoy the luxury of the extra lane and while the Belfast-man was obviously bemused at the fact that he should have drawn lane nine, he promised to give it his best shot.

Yesterday, he walked around the track with fellow 400m runner, David McCarthy, who had better luck in the draw when he drew lane six in heat four and afterwards commented: “We were told this morning that lane nine might be used, if all the declared athletes stood their ground.”