The Irish women’s 4X100m relay team took a big slice off the Irish record when they placed second in Geneva on Saturday.
Claire Brady (Celbridge AC), Derval O’Rourke (Leevale AC), Niamh Whelan and Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC) clocked 44.27, well inside the 44.68 record set in 2006 but finished second to Italy who won in 44.03.
The Irish time is also well inside the qualifying standard for the European championships in Barcelona.
David Gillick (Dundrum South Dublin AC) clocked 45.32 in the 400m, but had to settle for second place behind training partner Martyn Rooney representing Britain, who won in 44.99.
Derval O’Rourke made her first hurdles race of the season a winning one with a time of 13.09.
Brona furlong (Slaney Olympic) won the 400m hurdles in a time of 57.96, just outside her personal best.
In Leiden Holland, Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers) won his second 400m of the week in a time of 46.86, just 100th of a second ahead of second place. In a separate heat, Gordon Kennedy (Tullamore Harriers) won comfortably in 46.87.
Chris Russell (Ferrybank AC) recorded two new personal bests over the course of the afternoon. In the 100m he was second in 10.61 and fourth in the 200m in 21.36 to better his old marks of 10.65 and 21.43.
Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers) won the 3,000m in 7:55.05, just a second ahead of second placed Sean Connolly (Tallaght AC).
At the Northern Ireland athletics championship Jason Smyth ran an impressive 10.32, which puts him inside the qualifying time for Barcelona and he also takes a new Northern Ireland record. As a bonus it moves him into second spot on the all time list behind Paul Hession.
