Menton set for Sydney

Athletics: Dublin's John Menton has achieved an Astandard qualifying throw in the discus for the Sydney Olympics, reports Ian O'Riordan.

The Donore Harriers clubman was competing at a US club meeting in New Jersey on Wednesday night and threw 63.75 metres - comfortably beyond the 63.50 qualifying mark.

At a meeting in Cardiff Aoife Byrne ran two minutes 6.80 seconds over 800 metres which is well inside the standard for the World Junior Championships in Chile next October.

Swimming: Emma Robinson has joined an elite band of Irish swimmers to figure in European Championship finals when qualifying for today's decider in the 50 metres breaststroke in Helsinki. Robinson, from Bangor is a 19year-old student at Bath University and set a new Irish record for the distance of 32.65 seconds in the initial heats before going on to produce the seventh best time in the semi-finals yesterday.

Equestrian: Captain Gerry Flynn scored an individual victory yesterday when claiming the opening speed class at the Swedish Nations Cup fixture in Falsterbo, reports Grania Willis.

Flynn and the 14-year-old mare Diamond Explosion were followed home by Germany's Markus Merschformann, with Flynn's Army colleague Lt Shane Carey slotting into third on Galtee Beg.

Tennis: Gina Niland and Elsa O'Riain will contest the Perrier Irish Close Tennis Championships final at Donnybrook tomorrow, reports Pat Roche.

O'Riain would have hoped for a more decisive victory over Naas opponent Susan Campbell than the 6-3, 6-4 scoreline but Niland, the holder and top seed, showed good form in her quick dismissal of Dearbla Kelly 6-1, 61. Davis Cup recruit Peter Clarke gave an improved performance to reach the semi-finals, beating Stephen Taylor 6-1, 6-1.

Details in SPORTS ROUND-UP

Drugs In Sport: Mike Fibbens has become the first British athlete to be told he cannot compete for Britain at the Olympic Games because he has tested positive for cocaine after his appeal to be allowed to swim in Sydney was turned down by the British Olympic Association yesterday.

Special Olympics: Fifty-four athletes were honoured at a reception in Dublin Castle yesterday by the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation James McDaid for their achievements in the recent European Special Olympic Games in Groningen.

They competed in seven sports - bowling, basketball, table tennis, equestrian, athletics, gymnastics and swimming, winning 81 medals - 22 gold, 26 silver and 33 bronze.