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Last Updated: Sunday, 18 February 2007, 17:57 GMT
NI athletes in Odyssey medal haul
Belfast athlete Gareth Turnbull
Gareth Turnbull won the 1500m and was third in the 800m
Gareth Turnbull won the 1500 metres and was third in the 800m on a good day for Northern Ireland athletes at the Irish Indoor Championships in Belfast.

European Indoors hopeful Turnbull took the 1500m in 3:44.28 and was back on the track 90 minutes later for the 800.

Anna Boyle retained her 60m title with a 7.38 clocking while Paul McKee (47.51) won the men's 400m.

Lisburn AC's Kelly Reid continued her recent fine form by securing gold medals in the 1500m and 800m.

Paul Hession improved his Irish record to 6.63 when winning the 60m. His time cut .03 off the mark he set a couple of weeks ago in Vienna.

City of Derry talent Jason Smyth was unlucky not to make the 60m 'A' final after being fifth fastest of the semi-finalists (6.91) but he was the victim of a loaded semi-final.

Olympic decathlon champion Roman Sebrle made a lot of friends with his affable demeanour over the weekend although his only medal from his three events was silver in the shot where his 15.73 left him behind Meath man Kieran Kelly (17.03).

Sebrle was using the Odyssey meeting as preparation for his challenge at the European Indoor Championships in Birmingham in two weeks' time.

It was a good enough workout considering I hadn't run any indoors at all this year

400m winner Paul McKee

Turnbull will surely also be in action in Birmingham and he expressed himself happy with his weekend's work.

"It is just what I needed. I have got a five-mile road race this evening as well," joked the St Malachy's man after his busy afternoon.

In his opening event, Turnbull found himself almost 10 metres in arrears of Norway's Joachim Brondo after 800 metres but the 27-year-old reeled in the leader before moving to the head of affairs on the penultimate lap.

Turnbull was last at the halfway stage of the 800m final but he produced his customary strong finish to move up to third (1.51.47) behind Kenyan Justus Koech (1:51.02) and another Birmingham-bound athlete Liam Reale (1:51.19).

Those behind Turnbull included four-placer David McCarthy (1:51.70).

Anna Boyle was a little disappointed with her 60m winning time but it was not surprising given her complete dominance with Ailis McSweeney way back in second in 7.64 and North Down's Amy Foster in fourth (7.69).

However, Boyle must have a good chance of improving her Irish record (7.32) at the European Indoors.

Paul Hession
Paul Hession's new Irish 60m record was rounded up to 6.63

Paul McKee won the men's 400m title in 47.51 and he will skip the European Indoors to continue his preparations for the outdoor season.

"I was happy enough with the weekend. It was a good enough workout considering I hadn't run any indoors at all this year and I'll be straight back into training this week," said McKee.

In-form Kelly Reid won the women's 1500m in 4:21.01, beating 3000m winner Orla Drumm, and the Lisburn woman was an even more emphatic winner of the 800m in 2:08.73 with Newcastle AC's Kerry Harty (2:13.57) in second.

Abbey AC's Elaine McCaffrey produced a gutsy run to win the women's 400m in 56.54 while Ballymena & Antrim's Caolan Flanagan had to settle for silver after a thrilling men's high jump competition.

Holder Flanagan jumped 2.10m but DCH's Mark Crowley produced a superb 2.15m to take the gold.

Flanagan's club-mate Jonathan Ritchie was pipped for the Irish triple jump title with UCC's Denis Finnegan winning the gold because of the better second jump after both had managed 14.08.

In the women's triple jump, Finn Valley's Gillian Kerr won the Irish title with a best leap of 12.73.



SEE ALSO
Turnbull likely to go for double
15 Feb 07 |  Athletics


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