Turnbull's Olympic hopes look dashed

1500m runner Gareth Turnbull's chances of making the Athens Olympic Games seem to be dashed after a poor run at the North Down Games in Bangor.

The 25-year-old could only clock 3:46.03 at last night's wind-affected meeting, for sixth in a race won by Kenyan Laban Rotich (3:41.24). Turnbull, who needs a PB to beat the 3:36.20 A standard for the Games, could have one last chance on Monday evening at the Thessalonica meet in Greece.

The Olympic Council of Ireland's deadline for track and field athletes is Tuesday at 5pm. Nenagh sprinter Gary Ryan will attempt 200m qualification at tomorrow night's high profile Meeting de Madrid 2004.

Athens-bound Paul Brizzel picked up a morale-boosting win in the Bangor 200, in a slow time of 21.41 seconds, while also finishing fourth behind Namibian guest star Frankie Fredericks in the 100 metres. Olympic high jump champion Sergey Kylugin defeated up-and-coming Irish star Adrian O'Dwyer by clearing 2.20 metres.