Cuddihy doubles up in style

Joanne Cuddihy announced herself as the new star of Irish athletics in Santry today as she added the 400 metres title to the 200m gold she won yesterday at the Woodie's DIY National Track and Field Championships.

The 22-year-old from Kilkenny managed a personal best and championship record time of 51.28 seconds to totally blitz a 400m field which was missing nine-time champion Karen Shinkins due to injury.

Cuddihy seems the heiress apparent to Shinkins and if she continues her development, the UCD medical student could be first Irish woman to dip under the 51-second barrier - if she could do it at the European Championships in Gothenburg next month, it would be a monumental achievement.

UCD graduate Derval O'Rourke retained her 100 metres hurdles title, clocking a time of 13.24 seconds - well outside her national record of 12.92 - but the 25-year-old was barely rested as she romped home seven metres clear.

The European Indoor 60m hurdles champion will step up her preparation for Gothenburg with races in Stockholm and Helsinki next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Limerick's Rosemary Ryan in the 5000m final, Roisin McGettigan, who travelled back from Belgium this morning after clocking 9:32.04 - slicing 13 seconds off her 3000m steeplechase national record - in a race in Heusden, took gold in the 800m final, while North Sligo's Mary Cullen was the 1500m winner.