Smyth win boosts Ireland's Budapest bid

Derry sprinter Jason Smyth claimed the scalp of reigning European champion Francis Obikwelu with a stunning display at today's European Team Championships 1st League competition in Budapest.

Portugal's Obikwelu, who won the 100 metres and 200 metres at the 2006 Europeans, was beaten into second place by the superb Smyth who is really in the form of his life.

Boosting Ireland's fortunes at the team event, Smyth stole the show in the 100m, edging out Obikwelu by one-hundredth of a second (10.27 seconds), with an illegal following wind of 2.4 metres per second unfortunately ruling out a new personal best.

The 22-year-old, who is partially sighted, set his best time of 10.32 seconds at last weekend's Northern Ireland Championships in Antrim.

Smyth is gearing up to compete in the upcoming European Championships for Ireland and will represent Northern Ireland at this year's Commonwealth Games.

The double Paralympic champion spent the winter and spring in America, training alongside Tyson Gay, and is improving at a great rate under the coaching helm of Stephen Maguire and Lance Brauman.

Smyth's efforts on a warm Hungarian afternoon propelled Ireland into seventh place at the 12-team, two-day event. The Irish won promotion from the 2nd League last year, and need to finish tenth or better in Budapest in order to avoid relegation.

The other sides in action alongside Ireland are the Czech Republic, Belgium, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, hosts Hungary, Holland, Slovenia, Lithuania and Estonia.