David Matthews continued his impressive early-season form with a comfortable victory over 800 metres at the BLE Games in Santry yesterday. Despite the windy conditions, Matthews led the entire two laps to finish in one minute 49.36 seconds, with his UCD team-mate Andrew Walker the next best in 1:52.27. James Nolan, also of the UCD club, decided to move up a distance and had little trouble taking a tactical 1,500 metres in 3:56.81.
Ciara Sheehy of West Dublin also displayed her prospects for the summer by winning both the 100 metres (12.33) and 200 metres (23.98) by clear margins, while national 400 metre record holder Karen Shinkins was well pleased with a time of 53.86 seconds in her speciality.
Meanwhile, Susan Smith-Walsh made further progression with her second race of the season by finishing sixth in the IAAF Grand Prix in Osaka, Japan, on Saturday with a time of 55.63 seconds.
European champion Ionela Tirlea of Romania won in 54.89 with Deon Hemmings of Jamaica and Kim Batten of the USA also dipping under 55 seconds.
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