Caulfield makes a step up

Daniel Caulfield will be the only member of the Irish team making a major championship debut at the World Indoor Championships in Lisbon next month. Caulfield was one of 11 athletes named by the AAI last night to travel to Lisbon on the weekend of March 9th-11th, where he will compete in the 800 metres.

The 28-year-old has made a remarkable return to form this season after spending a number of years in the middle distance wilderness. Now with a new coach and back in America, the Roscommon-born athlete is rewarded for his persistence with an Irish vest.

The first major sign of his return came at the Millrose Games earlier this month when Caulfield finished a close second to American veteran Johnny Gray. A week later in Boston, he clocked one minute 47.21 seconds to improve James Nolan's Irish record and secure the A-standard for Lisbon.

IRISH SELECTION - Men: P Brizzell (Ballymena and Antrim) 200 metres; T Coman (Templemore) 400 metres; D Caulfield (Dublin City Harriers) 800 metres; J Nolan (UCD) 1,500 metres; M Carroll (Leevale) 3,000 metres; P Coghlan (Crusaders) 60 metre hurdles; Women: C Sheehy (Dublin City Harriers) 60 metres; K Shinkins (Dublin City Harriers) 400 metres; S Delahunty (Kilkenny City Harriers); S O'Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh) 1,500/3,000 metres; B Dennehy-Willis (Bandon AC) 3,000 metres.