BBC SPORT | NORTHERN IRELAND | McIlroy's struggles continue

James McIlroy endured another disappointing performance when he could only finish sixth in the 800m at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix at Crystal Palace on Sunday night.

McIlroy was chasing the World Championship qualifying mark of 1.46.00 but he was almost two seconds off that with a time of 1.47.95.

There is still a possibility McIlroy could be chosen on his time from last season (1.45.96).

However, the Northern Ireland man would be fortunate to gain selection given his disappointing form this summer.

His best time this year is 1.47.42.

Kenya's David Kiptoo of Kenya won the Crystal Palace race in 1.46.16 from Australian Grant Cremer (1.46.74) and American Tracy Gray (1.46.89).

Although Simon Lees set a personal best of 1:47.35, it was also short of the Edmonton qualifying mark.

Neil Speaight who defeated McIlroy to win last week's AAA's title was seventh in 1.48.10.

John McAdorey won Irish 100m title

John McAdorey's victory in the men's 100m capped a good weekend for Northern Ireland athletes at the Irish National Championships at Santry.

McAdorey, Ireland's fastest man in 2001, clocked 10.55 seconds to finish .30 ahead of second-placer Tom Comyns.

Earlier, Ballymena & Antrim athlete McAdorey, whose season's best is 10.46, had clocked 10.54 in the semi-finals.

North Down athlete Eva Massey added to her discus gold of Saturday by claiming first place in her specialist shot event on Sunday.

Massey's best of exactly 15 metres left her comfortably ahead of her rivals.

Lifford athlete Sharon Foley also completed a double by setting a championship best of 12.44m in the triple jump.

Foley had claimed the high jump gold on Saturday.

Ballymena & Antrim pole vaulter Zoe Brown's opening height of 3.30m was enough to take gold while Stephen McDonnell produced a super performance to win the men's 400H.

Mark Carroll won the Irish 5000m title

McDonnell's time of 51.97 represented a significant improvement for the 21-year-old Strabane man.

Those behind McDonnell included Ian Neely who took third place.

Conor Sweeney and Richard Girvan ran well to take second and third respectively in the men's 800m.

World Championship-bound Daniel Caulfield won the two-lap event ahead of Sweeney who clocked a personal best of 1.49.35.

Sweeney now seems certain to be selected for the World Student Games in China in late August where he should join his former St Malachy's College schoolmate Gareth Turnbull.

Those behind Sweeney and Girvan in the 800m final included Irish record-holder David Matthews.

Belfast runner Paul McKee finished a slightly disappointing third in the men's 400m final but he will have the consolation of a place in the Irish relay squad for the World Championships in Edmonton.

Coghlan disappoints

Tomas Coman showed a fine return to form by taking victory in an impressive 45.99 ahead of Rob Daly (46.06) and McKee (46.42).

With Paul Opperman and Gordon Kennedy injured, Tom Comyns could move up from the short sprints to be given the fourth 4x400m slot for Edmonton.

Rebecca Mitchell took silver in the women's 100H behind Dervla O'Rourke.

Other performances of note included victories for World Championship prospects Mark Carroll (5000m) and James Nolan (1500m).

Meanwhile, Peter Coghlan, a winner in the Irish Championships on Saturday, finished a disappointing last in the 110H at the British Grand Prix at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Coghlan clocked 13.85 - .10 slower than his time at Santry on Saturday.

Cuba's Olympic champion Anier Garcia took victory in 13.37.


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