Gregan denied new junior record

ATHLETICS WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS:BRIAN GREGAN was denied a new Irish junior 400 metres record at the IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, yesterday when he was disqualified after finishing fifth in the final.

The 18-year-old schoolboy from Tallaght crossed the line in 46.60 seconds to break the record of 46.70 which he had set in Germany last month, but a few minutes later came the announcement that the Irishman had been disqualified for stepping out of his lane.

Soon after the announcement was made the Irish management team of Gary Ryan and Gareth Coghlan lodged an appeal but it was turned down by the Jury of Appeal.

Last night Coghlan said that the Irish officials had been informed that Gregan, who was given lane nine right on the outside, had two lane infringements on the crown of the final bend, 120 metres from the finish.

"We reviewed the evidence and saw only one infringement when he touched lane on his inside with the heel of his outside leg and on that evidence their decision was correct," said Coghlan.

Gregan ran exceptionally well to finish fifth as the outsider of the two Americans, Marcus Boyd, took the gold medal in 45.53, the fastest time by a junior in the world this year.

Pamela Hughes from Co Mayo, who did well to qualify, was unable to build on that achievement when she finished last with a clearance of 1.73 metres behind Kimberley Jess (Germany) in the final of the women's high jump yesterday.

Niamh Whelan qualified for the second round of the women's 200 metres when fourth in 24.02 but was then eliminated in her semi-final with 24.24.

Máiréad Murphy and Sandra Lawler were both eliminated in the heats of the 100m hurdles with respective times of 14.21 and 14.58.

There was a warning for Irish hammer thrower Eileen O'Keeffe ahead of the Olympics after 18-year-old Bianca Perie of Romania won the event yesterday with 67.95 metres, some four metres better than the Irish record-holder.