In-form Gillick scoops July award

DAVID GILLICK’S historic 44.77-second run in Madrid last month was recognised yesterday when he was given the Crowne Plaza Athlete of the Month Award for July as he packed his bags for the world championships in Berlin.

That time was franked in his next outing at the Golden Gala in Rome where he posted 44.82 secs to consolidate his position among the top one-lap runners in the world and the fastest European this season over 400m.

What has become the most spectacular season of his athletics career to date began on a low note when he crashed out at the semi-final stages has he was bidding for a sensational third successive European indoor title.