Gillick caps off 'crazy day' for Irish athletics

Golden boy David Gillick capped off what Irish team manager Patsy McGonagle described as "a crazy day" by becoming the first man to retain the European Indoor 400 metres title since Britain's Du'aine Ladejo did so in 1996.

Gillick ran the fastest 400m of his life at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, battling past Germany's Bastian Swillims in the final five metres to hold to defend the title he won in Madrid two years ago in superb style.

The Dubliner, who now trains with Nick Dakin at Loughborough University, pipped his main rival in a new Irish record time of 45.52 seconds - it was the third national record set by an Irish athlete today.

Ballymena & Antrim's Anna Boyle had lowered her own 60m national record to 7.30 seconds in the morning heats, but failed to make it through to the final.

Paul Hession did manage to make tomorrow's men's 60m final - the Athenry sprinter, who has stalled his medical studies to concentrate full-time on athletics, clocked 6.61 in his heat to continue his excellent recent form.

But it was Gillick who made sure he grabbed the headlines when he made a decisive burst off the last bend, just as he did against Britain's Robert Tobin in his semi-final, to strike gold.

Speaking afterwards, the Dundrum South Dublin clubman said: "I knew if I was going to win that I had to get myself to the inside at the break. To do that, I had to go out fast at the start. Swillims went off so hard that I just had to stay with him and wait.

"I knew in the last 50 metres I would have him. To compete, I know I've got to go out and take the race by the scruff of the neck. This season has taught me that I've got the strength to do that," added the 23-year-old.

"I can't ask for more - my second gold and a new national record. I knew it was going to be tough but I felt great in the last bend.

"I had a lot to prove and this proves I'm back. I'm looking forward to a great summer," said Gillick, who missed last month's Irish Indoors due to the 'flu and had injury-hit outdoor seasons in 2005 and 2006.

A delighted Hession, who clocked 6.64 seconds to qualify through from his 60m semi-final, said of his run: "I'm in the final, it's 60 metres and as we all know anything can happen. I just cant wait to get out there again as I'm feeling fantastic."

Both Thomas Chamney (1:50.48) and David McCarthy (1:49.37) failed to qualify for the 800m final, but Offaly man James Nolan finished fourth in his heat, clocking 3:43.57, to make tomorrow's 1500m final. Gareth Turnbull and Liam Reale failed to make any headway in their heats.

Elsewhere, Alistair Cragg failed to defend his 3000m title from Madrid as he finished sixth in a hotly-contested final. The South African-born runner came home in sixth (8:03.70), fading over the final 200 metres.

After a hectic few hours, Irish manager McGonagle commented: "It has been a crazy day. We started off in the best of fashions with the two sprint records. In the afternoon the lads in the 800m were really unlucky not to make the final.

"I'm pleased for James and Paul to reach their finals, Alastair was always one of our hopes for a medal but this is athletics and there was a lot of talent in the 3000m - it was arguably the hottest event of the on track but I'm more than sure that Alastair will be back stronger than ever in the summer.

"But I have to say that watching David win gold for the second time was fantastic and the day belongs to him and I hope he enjoys it, I know the rest of the team will."

Tomorrow sees three Irish athletes in action at the NIA - Sligo's Mary Cullen goes in the 3000m final at 3.25pm, with Nolan (3000m final, 3.50pm) and Hession (60m final, 4.20pm) following her.