Gillick hopeful of outdoor medal success

After recently equalling his Irish 400 metres record, Irish runner David Gillick is upbeat about his chances at this weekend's World Indoor Championships in Doha.

Gillick, whose winter schedule has been centred on preparing for the outdoor season, was elated after clocking 45.52 seconds and equalling his two-year-old national mark at last month's Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham.

"The indoor season wasn't a goal for the year, all my training is geared for the outdoor season," said Gillick.

"We said we would do a race indoors to break up the winter," he added. "I knew I had been training well over the winter, but to run that fast in my first race was exciting."

His emphatic victory at the showpiece event lifted him at the time to second place in the world rankings and, when the 400m heats get under way on Friday, only Bershawn Jackson of the United States will go to the start line with a faster mark this year.

Gillick, although a highly experienced indoor performer with two European titles under his belt, is taking nothing for granted in what looks like a wide open race.

"I felt very strong in Birmingham, and I did look around and slightly ease up in the last few metres, so I'd like to think there is a few more tenths there," said the 26-year-old Ballinteer-born star.

"Obviously running a fast time puts you up there, but there are other athletes out there who have run fast and indeed faster, so it's not going to be plain sailing."

Jackson and his fellow American Jamaal Torrance, Sean Wroe - who has shown good form outdoors in his native Australia - plus Jamaican Chris Brown, the bronze medallist at the last two championships, are all genuine medal contenders.

Gillick admitted: "I think the American athletes will be a threat, and of course three rounds in two days will be tough, but it's the same for every athlete.

"The indoor titles have been great helping me get to where I am, and the general public like medals," added Gillick, the Euro 2005 and 2007 champion who was denied a hat-trick when falling in last year's semi-final.

"The indoor 400m is exciting to watch, a lot can happen. But as an athlete, you want to run your best outdoors."

Gillick stressed despite the lure of the US$40,000 (€29,315) winner's purse that, after being the first European finisher when sixth at last summer's World Championships in Berlin, his outdoor campaign remains top priority.

"Outdoors is where it is at, the bigger season and where the best athletes compete," said Gillick, who is targeting the European crown in Barcelona this summer.

"Barcelona will be tough, I think it is going to be one of the toughest years over 400m, there are plenty of quick guys out there.

"But I think I'm still improving and Berlin gives me confidence."

For the moment he remains determined to bring home a gold medal and win Ireland's first world indoor title since Derval O'Rourke's success four years ago in Moscow.

"Yes, I will be nervous," said Gillick, "but that is the norm and can help me get the best out of myself."

O'Rourke will miss the opportunity of regaining her crown after picking up a hamstring injury last week.