Belfast 400 metre runner Paul McKee produced a fine performance in Germany on Friday night to achieve the qualifying standard for next month's World Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

McKee beat off largely German opposition to win the 400m at the Chemnitz Indoor meeting in 46.85 seconds.

That was .05 inside the standard for the World Indoors.

McKee competes in next weekend's Irish Indoor Championships at the Odyssey Arena in his native Belfast.

Having now achieved his immediate target, McKee will expect to produce even faster times as the World Championships near.

Meanwhile, Ballymena sprinter Paul Brizzel will continue his preparations for the World Indoors by competing over 60m in Cardiff on Sunday.

Brizzel recently set a new Irish 200m record of 21.06 seconds.