Athletics:David Gillick lived up to his promise to "leggit" in the 400 metres semi-final at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Qatar this afternoon, when posting the second fastest time with a run of 46.15 seconds.
The Dubliner was edged into second in the first semi by American Bershawn Jackson – perceived to be his closes rival in Doha - who was two hundredths of a second quicker than the Ballinteer athlete.
Cuban William Collazo ran a personal best of 46.34 to come third.
Gillick may well have won had Jackson not moved to close the gap on the inside that the Irishman tried exploit on the 200m mark.
The double European champion adjusted quickly and moved on to the right shoulder of the American before driving for home, only to beaten at the post by the slimmest of margins.
“I wanted to go out there and win,” he said afterwards. “I am disappointed I didn’t as it is all about the lanes in the indoor’s and I will most likely end up with lane three or four for the final.
“I am a little frustrated as I know I had the beating of him but I know I am in good shape.”
Gillick has since been drawn in lane three inside American Jamaal Torrance (46.69) and Bahamian Chris Brown (46.64) in five. Jackson will start out of lane six, with Costa Rican Nery Brenes (46.73) in two and Collazo in one.
This morning Gillick breezed through his heat ahead of Collazo but compatriot Brian Gregannarrowly missed on the semi-finals when he finished third in a time of 47.26.
Celbridge athlete Claire Bradywill run in Sunday's 60m semi-finals after posting a time of 7.45 seconds to qualify as the fastest loser.
Despite a season's best run of one minute, 51.88 seconds David McCarthybowed out of the 800 metres. And Deirdre Ryanfailed to advance in the high jump, her mark of 1.85 metres not enough to qualify for tomorrow's final.
Hazel Murphyand Deirdre Byrneboth failed to make the grade in their respective 3000m heats, despite the latter posting a personal best of eight minutes 58.94 seconds for 10th place. Murphy finished ninth in her heat.
Rose Ann Galligan(4:17.04) and Kelly McNeice(4:16.26) both bowed out after finishing seventh in their respective heats in the women's 1500 metres and falling well short of the pace set by Ethiopia's Kalkidan Gezahegne (4:08.91).