Gillick chasing hat-trick in Italy

DAVID GILLICK has confirmed his entry in next weekend’s European Indoor Championships in Turin, Italy, which run from March 6th-8th.

Gillick was one of six athletes added to the Ireland team yesterday and the Dundrum AC runner thus chases a third successive title over 400 metres.

Also added to the team are Ailis McSweeney (Leevale AC) and Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank AC) in the 60 metres, David McCarthy (Le Chéile AC) in the 800 metres, pole vaulter Zoe Brown and Jessica Zebo (Leevale AC) in the 400-metre relay.

Gillick is the third-ranked European this season with the 46.18 seconds he ran in Dusseldorf earlier this month, his sole indoor race of the season.

Mary Cullen is still ranked second-fastest European over 3,000 metres.

The team includes several of Ireland’s most promising athletes, including Ireland long jump record-holder Kelly Proper and Bronagh Furlong, who won an All-Ireland camogie medal with Wexford.

IRISH TEAM (for European Indoor Championships, Turin, March 6th-8th)

Men – 60m: Paul Hession (Athenry AC); 400m: David Gillick (Dundrum South Dublin); 800m: David McCarthy (Le Chéile AC). Women – 60m: Ailis McSweeney (Leevale AC), Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank AC); 400m: Marian Andrews (Togher AC), Bronagh Furlong (Slaney Olympic AC); 1,500m: Róisín McGettigan (Slí Chulainn AC); 3,000m: Deirdre Byrne (Slí Chulainn AC), Mary Cullen (North Sligo AC): 60m hurdles: Derval O’Rourke (Leevale AC); High Jump: Deirdre Ryan (UCD AC); Pole vault: Zoe Brown (Unattached); Long jump: Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC); 4x400m relay: Marian Andrews (Togher AC), Bronagh Furlong (Slaney Olympic AC), Gemma Hynes (Galway City Harriers AC), Claire Bergin (Dundrum South Dublin AC), Christine McMahon (Ballymena Antrim AC), Jessica Zebo (Leevale AC).