James Nolan and Cathal Lombard each placed 5th running massive personal bests at the Grand Prix II KBC Night of Athletics meeting in Heusden, Belgium on 2nd August.

Nolan (UCD) continued his preparations for the World Championships later this month. The Offaly man recorded a time of 3.35.69, a time which overtakes Eamonn Coghlan for 7th on the Irish all-time list and also makes him number one Irishman this year ahead of Gareth Turnbull who recently clocked a personal best of 3:36.60. Kenyan Isaac Songok was first home in the race with a time of 3:31.54 and was followed home by three of his fellow countryman, Benjamin Kipkurui (3:32.42), Robert Rono (3:33.78) and Laban Rotich (3:33.78).

Cathal Lombard was coming off a brilliant personal best at 10,000m when he ran 28.05.27 in Watford a fortnight ago. The Leevale lad was back on track in Heusden hoping to better his 5k best of 13.39.54 that the set earlier this season. He ran a fearless race, mixing it up with four Kenyans throughout, eventually finishing a superb fifth in a time of 13:19.22 - a 20 second personal best! More importantly he reached the World Championship and Olympic A qualifying standard in the 5,000m adding to the 10,000m B standard he already achieved earlier this summer. Lombard now also moves into 7th on the all-time Irish 5000m list and overtakes U.S. collegiate star Alistair Cragg at the top of the Irish 5000m rankings for 2003. This season alone, Lombard has knocked more than 35 seconds off his 5,000m personal best!

Maura Prenderville (Riocht AC) was the top Irish finisher of the night when placing third with a time of 2:45.73 in her 1,000m race. Victory was claimed by Olympic 1500 metres gold medallist Mérah-Benida Nouria, a runaway winner in a time of of 2:37.49.

A trio of Irish women competed in the 5,000 metres led by Bandon's Breeda Dennehy Willis in 9th (15.36.44), Marie McMahon Davenport (Marian AC) in 16th (15.56.96) and Maria McCambridge (Dundrum South Dublin) in 18th place with a time of 16.15.75.