ATHLETICS:Whatever David Gillick originally thought about next month's European Indoor championships has changed after his sensational Irish indoor record over 400 metres in Germany on Tuesday night.
In his first indoor race of the season Gillick cruised to victory in 45.91 seconds, knocking a large chunk off the Irish record and an even larger chunk off his personal best.
He had gone to the small meeting in Düsseldorf merely seeking a test of fitness after a heavy block of winter training, and so was surprised when he produced the fastest time in the world this year.
In the process he improved the Irish record of 45.99, which Paul McKee ran to take bronze at the World Indoor championships in 2003, and improved his own best of 46.17 seconds clocked eroute to winning the European title in Madrid two years ago.
Still only 23, Gillick was intending to have a low-key indoor season, and defending his European title in Birmingham on the first weekend in March certainly wasn't a high priority.
He now admits to a rethink, however, as in this form it's clear another title is well within his reach.
"I just wanted to get out fast in this race," said Gillick. "I really didn't know what to expect. It was my first serious indoor race since I won the European title in Madrid two years ago.
"And I wasn't looking at indoors that hard this year. With the Olympics just around the corner, I wanted to focus on the outdoor season. But there will be lots of Irish supporters coming across the water for that weekend. I had to give it some serious thought."
His 45.91 was the highlight of Tuesday's meeting, staged on a temporary track in a small sports hall.
Starting in the outside lane, Gillick slipped into the lead after the first 200-metre lap, passed in 21.36, and in the end comfortably held off the leading German, Bastian Swillims, a former European junior champion, who was also rewarded with a personal best, 46.07.
They both eclipsed the previous world leader of 46.23, clocked by Jamaica's Ricardo Williams, while the fastest American is Reginald Dardar, with 46.24.
What surprised Gillick most of all about his time is that he had not tapered his training in any way.
He is clearly benefiting from his move last October to Loughborough, England, where he now works under the British coach Nick Dakin, who agreed that Birmingham should now be targeted.
Derval O'Rourke has reiterated her intention, first reported last month, to skip Birmingham and focus all her efforts this year on the World Championships in Osaka in August.
"I am running really well at the moment and have been pleasantly surprised with how much progress I have made over the winter months," said the reigning World Indoor hurdles champion.
"It is very tempting to go and run European Indoors, as I know that I could go well there and potentially win a medal. However, I have to be disciplined and look at the bigger picture. The indoor season will be over in a matter of weeks. This is a conscious, calculated and professional decision with my future performance in mind. Thankfully I have a great support team around me, who make these types of decisions all the easier, with my focus being on getting strong for the forthcoming outdoor season."
Gillick, meanwhile, won't race again until the National Championships on the weekend after next, running the 60 metres, and his next 400 metres will be at the Europeans in Birmingham.
