Woodies Irish Track and Field Championships Day 2 - Athletics Ireland
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Woodies Irish Track and Field Championships Day 2

23 July 2006

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Superb victories in the men's and women's 400 metres by David Gillick and Joanne Cuddihy highlighted a great day's action at the Woodie's DIY national championships at the Morton Stadium. David Gillick edged closer to Paul McKee's national record ( 45.58 ) with a lifetime best of 45.67. McKee can be well pleased with his fine 2nd place in 45.96 confirming his return to form.Additionally David McCarthy ran well to finish 3rd in 46.76. Just as she had done in the 200 metres on Saturday Joanne Cuddihy dominated the 400 metres to win in another lifetime best of 51.28 .Her next target will surely be Karen Shinkins excellent record of 51.07 set in 1999.Michelle Carey skipped her specialist 400 metres hurdles to run on the flat and had a massive new personal best to finish 2nd in 52.67 to move her into third place on the all-time list. Liam Reale dominated the 1500 metres winning comprehensively from Alistair Cragg in 3.43.26 to 3.44.98. Cragg, Reale and Colin Costello broke early from the rest of the field and some superb acceleration from Reale on the last lap saw him pass Cragg with surprising ease . European junior champion Costello ran well for 3rd in 3.46.53. After a slow opening lap in the women's 1500 metres Mary Cullen increased the pace all the way( including an 65 secs 3rd lap) to the finish to comprehensively defeat a quality field in 4.17.50. David Campbell took out the pace in an exciting 800 metres only to be caught close home by an elated Thomas Chamney .Both these athletes have treated us with some great races this year. After her record breaking from the steeplechase on Saturday night in Belgium Roisin McGettigan ran a gutsy 800 metres to win in 2.08.10 from Orla Drumm 2.08.50 And what a wonderful 5000 metres we had with Gary Murray just 14.14.21 edging out European bound Martin Fagan 14.14.30 in a titanic battle all the way to the line. Kelly Proper who heads shortly to the world junior championships in Beijing dominated the long jump with opening leaps of 6.32 metres (+2.5 ) and 6.25 metres ( +2.2 ) and quite clearly her junior record of 6.08 metres will be smashed in favourable conditions. One of the start attractions of the meeting world indoor champion Derval O'Rourke won the 100 metres hurdles with ease in 13.24 and now heads to Helsinki with realistic expectations of improving on her national record of 12.92. The selectors met after the championships to select the team for the European Championships in Gothenburg. The team will be announced on Monday at a press conference in the Carlton Hotel near Dublin Airport at lunchtime.

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