Gillick added to Euro Indoors squad

Athletics Ireland has confirmed that double gold medallist David Gillick will defend his 400m European Indoor title in Italy next month. Gillick is one of five athletes who have been added to the now 18-strong squad for the Championships which take place in Turin from 6 to 8 March.

The four other athletes who were added to the team are Ailis McSweeney (Leevale AC), Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank AC), David McCarthy (La Cheile AC) and Jessica Zebo (Leevale AC). Pole vaulter Zoe Brown was also added to the original squad last weekend after her performance at the Celtic Cup in Cardiff.

Reigning champion Gillick took the 400m title in 2005 and 2007 but had a disappointing Olympics by his own high standards despite a good 2008 season where he broke his won 400m record. The Dundrum South Dublin runner has had a good start to 2009 and is currently ranked third in Europe after his season opener in Dusseldorf earlier this month.

Athletics Ireland will have a strong team in Italy for the Championships that will include Paul Hession, Derval O’Rourke and Mary Cullen. Hession was one of Ireland’s outstanding performers at the Beijing Olympics and will hope to be in contention for a medal in Turin.

Mary Cullen is Ireland’s in-form athlete at the moment. The Sligo athlete was fourth in the European Cross Country Championships before Christmas and has had a stunning start to 2009 as she broke Sonia O’Sullivan’s 3000m Irish indoor record.

The Irish team will also include several of Ireland’s most promising athletes including 60m Junior champion Niamh Whelan, Irish long jump record holder Kelly Proper and Bronagh Furlong, who won an All-Ireland Camogie medal with Wexford.

Leevale AC athletes Ailis McSweeney and Derval O’Rourke will both be in action this evening at an indoor meet in Prague as they continue their build-up to the European Indoors.

Irish Team – European Indoor Championships
60m – Paul Hession (Athenry AC)
60m – Ailis McSweeney (Leevale AC)
60m – Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank AC)
400m – David Gillick (Dundrum South Dublin)
400m – Marian Andrews (Togher AC)
400m – Bronagh Furlong (Slaney Olympic AC)
800m – David McCarthy (La Cheile AC)
1500m – Roisin McGettigan (Sli Chulainn AC)
3000m – Deirdre Byrne (Sli Chulainn AC)
3000m – Mary Cullen (North Sligo AC)
60m H – Derval O’Rourke (Leevale AC)
High Jump – Deirdre Ryan (UCD AC)
Pole Vault – Zoe Brown (Unattached)
Long Jump – Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC)
4x400m Relay – Marian Andrews (Togher AC)
4x400m Relay – Bronagh Furlong (Slaney Olympic AC)
4x400m Relay – Gemma Hynes (Galway City Harriers AC)
4x400m Relay – Claire Bergin (Dundrum South Dublin AC)
4x400m Relay – Christine McMahon (Ballymena & Antrim AC)
4x400m Relay – Jessica Zebo (Leevale AC)