Gillian O'Sullivan got the Irish Indoor Athletics Championships at Belfast's Odyssey Arena off to a glorious start by setting a world record in the 3-Kilometre walk.

The Kerry woman set a new world's best of 11mins 35.33sec which took five seconds off the previous record held by Romania's Claudia Ivan.

O'Sullivan is also the current World 5K record holder.

This weekend marks the first time that a major athletics event has been staged at the �100m Belfast venue.

Olympic 200m champion Darren Campbell edged out fellow-Briton Mark Lewis-Francis to win the 60m final.

I would fancy my chances of running 21 seconds flat Paul McKee

Lewis-Francis had set an Irish all-comers record of 6.58 seconds in the heats but Campbell took victory in the final in 6.64 - just ahead of his compatriot (6.65).

Ireland's Mark Howard took third in 6.82.

Campbell and Lewis-Francis are looking for races in the hope of challenging for places in the British team for next month's World Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

Belfast athlete Dermot Donnelly was edged into third place after leading for most of the way in the men's 3000m.

Dubliner Robert Connolly took victory in 8:09.8 while Donegalman Gary Murray (8:11.2) pipped Donnelly (8:12.4) for second place.

Lewis-Francis was beaten by Campbell

In the women's 3000m, winner Maria Lynch (9:09.27) and runner-up Maria McCambridge (9:09.02) both achieved qualifying marks for the World Indoor Championships.

Una English (9:11.36) took third place.

Commonwealth Games finalist Zoe Brown cleared 3.55m to win the pole vault ahead of another Irish vaulter Juliet Claffey who managed 3.45m.

Brown set a new Northern Ireland record by clearing 4.01m recently.

In the women's 60m final, Ireland's Ciara Sheehy (7.45) edged out her domestic rivals Emily Maher (7.53) and Anna Boyle (7.63).

On Sunday, Olympic silver medallist Campbell will take on Irish internationals Paul Brizzel, Gary Ryan and national 400m record holder Paul McKee over 200m.

Paul Brizzel: Runs in the 200m

McKee, who last weekend achieved the 400m qualifying time for the world indoors, is moving down to tackle the shorter event.

"I would fancy my chances of running 21 seconds flat," McKee told BBC Sport Online.

"I had a look at the track on Thursday and it looks faster that the Kelvin Hall and Chemnitz where I've had my two indoor races so far this season".

Brizzel ran 21.06 in Birmingham recently to set a new Irish record while Gary Ryan clocked 21.16 in Glasgow so the Irish athletes are in the form to give Campbell a tough race.

Campbell at his best would expect to go comfortably under 21 seconds indoors so he could pull the three Irish competitors to quick times.

Over 50 athletes have entered the 200m with only four qualifying for Sunday afternoon's final (1625).