In-form Gillick stays on track

DAVID GILLICK installed himself as the favourite for the gold medal in the 400m at the upcoming European championships when he posted the fastest time of the year by a European one-lap runner at 44.98 secs in the Swiss town of La Chaux-De-Fonds on Sunday.

Almost a year ago to the day the two-time European indoor champion made his big breakthrough when he ran 44.77secs in Madrid and he went on break the 45 second barrier once more before finishing sixth in the final of the 400m at the world championships in Berlin.

And on Sunday he once again beat the 2006 European bronze medallist, Leslie Djhone, another expected medal contender for Barcelona, who ended up a remote second in 45.25.