Costello takes European gold

ATHLETICS: It takes something special for any country to go one-two in the final of a 1,500-metre championship - and Colin Costello and Danny Darcy have now proven themselves the brightest Irish talents in years.

Their heroics on the closing day, yesterday, of the European Junior Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania, also follow a tradition in Irish athletics: big stars arriving in pairs.

Costello, the 19-year-old from Julianstown, Co Meath, showed the marginally faster finishing speed to earn gold ahead of Darcy, who hails from Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, and doesn't turn 19 until next month.

Darcy in fact took out the pace from the gun, and Costello initially appeared content to sit in the pack, about 20 metres behind. Then, after less than 300 metres, the Spaniard Alvaro Rodriguez was spiked, stumbled into several athletes, including Costello, and stepped onto the infield.

Costello, now realising Darcy wasn't coming back, jumped out of the pack and onto his heels. No one else could follow.

Darcy led until Costello challenged him on the final bend. Down the home stretch Costello finally edged in front, winning in a personal best of three minutes 45.25 seconds. Darcy clocked 3:46.07, just half a stride behind.

Third went to the Pole Adrian Danilewicz in 3:47.22.

The last Irish winner in these championships was Mark Carroll, who took 5,000-metre gold back in 1990 - and both these athletes look set for further glory. Costello spent the last year at Dublin City University but is now bound for Arkansas University. Darcy, having just finished school this year, is due to start in DCU.

Dundrum's Linda Byrne came close to winning Ireland a third medal but despite running in the first three for much of the 3,000 metres steeplechase, she ended fourth in 10:42.00 - improving her own national junior record.