Paul McKee of Beechmount Harriers ran the fourth fastest 400m of the season in taking the title with 46.43. The surprise of the race came when Celbridge's David McCarthy failed to finish second as expected, with Dundrum's David Gillick edging him out for silver.
Afterwards McKee spoke of his plans for the Worlds. "I'll rest and train for the next two weeks and get into race groove for Paris. I was very pumped up for the race. I wanted to run sub-46 but unfortunately the time didn't come for me."
Sonia O'Sullivan triumphed in the 5000m with a trademark burst of speed over the final 200m, with a disappointing time of 15:20.68. Marian AC's Marie McMahon-Davenport was runner-up in 15.24.54.
Gary Ryan is due the title of unluckiest man of the meet. The Nenagh sprinter was clearly out to banish yesterday's 200m ghosts and ran a personal best of 10.29, bettering his 2000 record by nearly 0.2 seconds and his 2003 national best, 10.46 seconds. Unfortunately the wind was fractionally over the legal limit for it to dislodge Paul Brizzel's national record of 10.35 seconds.
Also on the track US-based Karen Shinkins retained her 400m title with the fast improving Joanne Cuddihy of Kilkenny taking second in a new Irish under 20 record of 53.02.
In the field, record breaker Terry McHugh took his 20th consecutive javelin title, with his fortieth birthday due the day before the World Championships begin. Lagan Valley's Erin Kinnear broke her own personal best and national record for pole vault glory.
