David Gillick reigning European indoor championships has pulled out of Belfast due to the flu. David Gillick has been forced to pull out of this weekend's Woodies DIY National indoor Championships due to the flu. The 23 year old, who is currently training in Loughborough with coach Nick Dakin, was due to compete in the 60m at the Championships in Belfast. Gillick won the 400m at the European Indoors in 2005 and recently broke the Irish record over the same distance. He is also the reigning Irish 200m Indoor champion. He has already achieved the qualifying standard to make the Irish team for the European Indoor Championships in Birmingham at the start of March and is expected to be fully fit.
Anna Boyle Belfast is crucial in my build up for the European Indoor Championships, I have the opportunity to run 3 rounds and although the competition will obviously be much tougher in Birmingham, winning a National title gives its own pressure and I expect that the challenge from my international team mates will be tough. The Odyssey arena in a great place to run, I work part-time in the box office there so it will be extra special to compete there in front of my family and friends. If I can rise the occasion like last year when I set my National record then I will be very happy. Obviously I'm determined to retain my title in Belfast and as I said that wont come easily, I'm running well, much better than last year, and have worked very hard on improving my technique and gaining additional fitness, I've had good victories in Budapest and in Bratislava, but my main aim for the indoor season is to compete well at the European Championships and I'm aiming to peak there. That said, I will need to run fast in Belfast so hopefully I can run a personal best again and advance my record. I ran very well in Cardiff 10 days ago, unfortunately the timing system malfunctioned and my time there will not be recorded for record purposes, I knew I'd run fast so I was very annoyed when told that the timing equipment had broken down, but it would be special to run that fast again in my home arena. I think this year's championships will be special, Paul Hession is running very well and I'm looking forward to seeing the battles for European selection. Obviously most athletes will be looking forward to the outdoor season. With the World championships and World student games taking place in August and late September it is important that I peak then, so after the indoor season its back into a tough block of training before the summer season. I'm travelling to Utah in the States during April and early May to train so that will be a new experience for me, something I'm really looking forward to.
Anna Boyle Belfast is crucial in my build up for the European Indoor Championships, I have the opportunity to run 3 rounds and although the competition will obviously be much tougher in Birmingham, winning a National title gives its own pressure and I expect that the challenge from my international team mates will be tough. The Odyssey arena in a great place to run, I work part-time in the box office there so it will be extra special to compete there in front of my family and friends. If I can rise the occasion like last year when I set my National record then I will be very happy. Obviously I'm determined to retain my title in Belfast and as I said that wont come easily, I'm running well, much better than last year, and have worked very hard on improving my technique and gaining additional fitness, I've had good victories in Budapest and in Bratislava, but my main aim for the indoor season is to compete well at the European Championships and I'm aiming to peak there. That said, I will need to run fast in Belfast so hopefully I can run a personal best again and advance my record. I ran very well in Cardiff 10 days ago, unfortunately the timing system malfunctioned and my time there will not be recorded for record purposes, I knew I'd run fast so I was very annoyed when told that the timing equipment had broken down, but it would be special to run that fast again in my home arena. I think this year's championships will be special, Paul Hession is running very well and I'm looking forward to seeing the battles for European selection. Obviously most athletes will be looking forward to the outdoor season. With the World championships and World student games taking place in August and late September it is important that I peak then, so after the indoor season its back into a tough block of training before the summer season. I'm travelling to Utah in the States during April and early May to train so that will be a new experience for me, something I'm really looking forward to.
