Conal McNamara from Achill Island, Co Mayo and Dubliner Michael Delaney became the first Irish Male medal winners since 1984 at either World or Paralympic levels when they won bronze in the B3 400m and B2 High Jump at the World I.B.S.A-Championships in Quebec.

400m
Sixteen-year old McNamara ran a magnificent time of 50.91 - a personal best by over half a second to finish third behind pre-race favourite American Royal Mitchell who ran 50.02. The Mayo youngster, a member of Westport Athletics Club, already has finished 5th in Tuesday's 200m final.

1,500m
Tony Ward ran 4.25.32 in the 1500m heats and did not advance to the final.

800m
Tony Ward from Monaghan continued this Irish success story at the I.B.S.A World Championships when he finished 4th in the B2 800-metre event in 2.09.54. Tunisian Maher Bouallegue was an impressive winner in a time of 1.56.33. Ward and guide Alan McDonnell can be rightfully proud of their excellent 4th place at World level and now look forward to the 1,500 metres heats on Sunday.

200m
Earlier in the week, Conal McNamara, from Achill Island was the toast of the Irish team attending the World Blind Sports championships in Quebec when he finished a magnificent 5th in the final of the 200m - B3. The young Westport AC athlete qualified via heats and a semifinal before running a brilliant final in windy and wet conditions. McNamara won Heat 2 in the qualifying round of the men's 200m B3 running 23.94 in to a head wind of -0.4 mps. Conal McNamara qualified for the 200m B3 final by placing 2nd in his semifinal heat running 23.46 (-0.5). In the final, McNamara placed 5th running 23.38 (-0.7) with American Royal Mitchell winning in a World Record time of 22.04.

High Jump
Michael Delaney, finished 4th in the B2 High Jump at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics. The Fingallians clubman, ten years competing at the International level, had the added problem of attempting to overcome a groin injury that forced him to pull out of Tuesday's Long Jump after just one jump. After receiving constant physiotherapy treatment over the past 48-hours for a groin pull, which occurred on a slippery runway in the long jump, he won his first medal at World level with a best of 1.70m.

Long Jump
Michael Delaney placed 11th in the Men's Long Jump B2 with a leap of 5.22m.

Thanks to Eamon Harvey for these reports.