PARIS - 30th August 2003, special to Irish Runner.com by Dave Mervyn

Ireland's participation in this year's World Championships in Paris was brought to a conclusion tonight with the failure of the men's 4x400m team to progress from heat three of the relay first round.

Led off by Belfast's Paul McKee, they did however manage a season's best for sixth place in a heat where the two qualifying places were fought out between France, the Dominican Republic and Great Britain. McKee, who disappointed in the individual event, ran an impressive 45.5 to lead the Irish quartet out.

100m specialist Gary Ryan faltered a little but 20-year-old David McCarthy reclaimed fifth position for Ireland on the third leg. David Gillick of Dundrum South Dublin sprinted home for a new 2003 best of 3:04.31, knocking over four seconds off their previous best, set in June in Arhus, Denmark. The national record of 3:03.73, clocked last summer in Munich, will be a target when Robert Daly and Thomas Coman return from injury lay-off.

Ireland were subsequently moved up to fifth as the Dominican Republic were disqualified.

IAAF Paris World Championships