There are lots of ways to describe David Gillick's 44.77 seconds for 400 metres in Madrid on Saturday night, but first of all it's fast, very fast. Fourth fastest in the world this year; the fastest by a European; way faster than any other Irishman; and fast enough to put Gillick in contention at next month's World Championships in Berlin.

Truth is Gillick was only concerned about the 44.-part. He'd been promising to become the first Irishman to break the 45-second barrier for a few years, and the only real surprise in the end was how easily he did it.

Now he's brought his Irish record into serious world-class territory. Only three men have run quicker this year; America's Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt (44.50), team-mate Jeremy Wariner (44.66), and Latroy Williams of the Bahamas (44.73).

Gillick did it in style as well, winning comfortably from Cedrik van Branteghem of Belgium (45.67), and Erison Hurtault of Dominica (45.97) - and was deservedly ecstatic afterwards: "It's fantastic. I had a good lane, in five, and a good reference in Cedric, in lane seven. He went out hard, I went out hard. Then I just pushed off the last bend as best I could. Remain tall, keep driving.

"Then I did something I shouldn't have done. I looked at the clock. But it felt quick. Maybe it cost me a few hundredths, but I'm delighted to get inside 45 seconds, and well inside it. And early in the season. So onwards and upwards."

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