 McKee will compete in the Irish Championships lnext weekend |
Paul McKee continued to edge his way towards form by clocking 46.44 for 400m to take fourth at a meeting in Lignano, Italy on Sunday evening. McKee's season's best should boost his confidence for next weekend's Irish Championships at Santry.
Paul Hession smashed Paul Brizzel's Irish 200m record when he clocked 20.44 to take fourth in Sunday's Norwich Union Grand Prix in Sheffield.
Hession's run cut .10secs off Brizzel's previous mark set in 2000.
The Athenry man, who set a new Irish 100m record of 10.18 earlier this season, finished behind US star Wallace Spearmon (20.08), Jamaican Usain Bolt (20.08) and another American Rodney Martin (20.39).
However, those behind Hession included in-form Briton Marlon Devenish (20.45) plus Jamaica's Chris Williams (20.82) and Australian Patrick Johnson (21.05).
Sligo woman Mary Cullen cut almost a massive 12 seconds off her personal best when finishing third in the 3000m in 8:48.17.
Cullen finished behind Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot (8:43.85) and Britain's Jo Pavey (8:47.39).
Joanne Cuddihy took third in the 400m in a season's best of 51.56.
Cuddihy ran superbly to finish behind Britain's Nicola Sanders (51.01) and American Monique Hennagan (51.19) while those behind the Irishwoman included US athlete Monique Henderson (51.69).
At the same meeting where McKee was in action in Italy, Irish athletes Dave Campbell and Thomas Chamney both achieved personal bests in the 800m.
 | I'm chipping away at the time and I finished quite strongly tonight which was encouraging |
Campbell took fifth in 1:46.05 while Chamney was seventh in 1:46.46.
Both times are World Championship B tests so both of them will go into next weekend's Irish Championships knowing that victory will be enough to secure a place in Osaka.
McKee also remains hopeful of pushing himself into the frame for a place at next month's World Championship.
Being drawn in the outside lane didn't help his chances in Sunday's race and the Belfastman was slightly disappointed that he hadn't gone a bit faster.
"I was out there pacing the guys in front of me and I felt that tactically, I didn't get it quite right," McKee told BBC Sport.
"Conditions were good and I felt I could have run a 46.1 tonight but I suppose I have to be pretty happy. I'm chipping away at the time and I finished quite strongly tonight which was encouraging."
McKee believes he needs to work on his speed at to that end, he is considering doubling up at next weekend's National Championships by also entering the 200m.
"I will probably submit entries for both and then decide next weekend.
"After the Nationals, I will run a 400m in Zaragoza the following weekend."
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