Gillick looks in good form ahead of the World Championships

David Gillick moved to joint fourth in this year's world rankings after smashing his Irish 400 metres record in Madrid on Saturday night.

Gillick had nearly a second to spare from Belgium's Cedric van Branteghem as he clocked 44.77 to triumph at the Meeting de Atletismo.

The Irishman's time was .35secs inside his previous national mark.

Meanwhile, Jason Smyth clocked 10.51 to win the 100m B race at the Leon Buyle Memorial Meeting in Belgium.

Smyth's time was .09 outside his personal best and Irish under-23 record set last weekend.

The Eglinton sprinter's 10.42 PB has already qualified him for next year's European Championships in Barcelona.

However, Gillick's run in Spain was the big talking point from a very positive weekend for Irish athletics.

Thomas Chamney and Dave Campbell starting the ball rolling for the Irish by both producing sub-1.46 clockings for 800m at the Bislett Games in Oslo.

But Gillick's achievement marks him out as a strong contender to reach the World Championship final in Berlin next month.

Paul Hession also showed good form at the Cork City Sports as he clocked 20.45 to win the 200m and finished second in the 100m with a wind-assisted 10.20.

On the local scene, Paul Rowan won the Mary Peters 10K in a time of 33.12 which left him ahead of Simon Taylor (34.04) and Gregory Walsh (34.42).

Gladys O'Neill won the women's event in 37.45.

The race was held as part of the former Olympic champion's 70th birthday celebrations.

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