Derval ORourke & Brian Gregan Headline Sprint Events at Senior Indoor Championships

Irish record holder Derval O'Rourke (Leevale AC) and in form 400m athlete Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC) top the billing for this weekend's Woodie's DIY National Senior Indoor Championships. Both athletes are rounding into top form ahead of the European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Derval O'Rourke made a big impact last weekend when she stormed to victory at the British trials in Sheffield recording a time of 8.10. O'Rourke then travelled to France on Tuesday 12th of February and placed fifth in a season's best time of 8.08. All eyes will be on O'Rourke in Athlone where a sub eight second time is a distinct possibility. Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) recently took down O'Rourke's national junior record with a time of 8.44. Lavin will aim to get as close as possible to her senior counterpart on Sunday.

In the men's event Edmund O 'Halloran (Leevale AC) was in dominant form when he won the sprint double at the national under 23 indoor championships last weekend. O 'Halloran recorded times of 7.06 for the 60m and 8.37 for the 60m hurdles. Simon Taggart (Donore Harriers AC) and junior athlete Andrew Creamer (Annalee AC) will be the likely challenges to O 'Halloran for the national title.

Amy Foster (City of Lisburn AC) tops the 60m indoor rankings with a time of 7.39 and will start as the favourite to take the title. Current Intervarsity and National U23 champion Catherine McManus (Dublin City Harriers AC) set a new personal best of 7.55 this season and along with Ferrybank AC duo Niamh Whelan and Kelly Proper will challenge for podium positions. Irish 100m record holder Alis McSweeney (Leevale AC) is also entered as she continues her comeback from an injury layoff. Junior athlete Phil Healy (Bandon AC) ran a new personal best of 7.58 at the junior championships and will be one to watch on Sunday.

David Hynes (Menapians AC) tops the men's 60m rankings with a time of 6.83 and will target the top spot on the podium. Irish Junior record holder Marcus Lawler (St Laurence O'Toole AC) is one to watch after his 6.90 record run last weekend. Defending champion Dean Adams (Ballymena & Antrim AC) and U23 100m and 200m record holder Steven Colvert (Crusaders AC) all make up a classy men's 60m field.

Current European leader in the 400m Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC) steps down in distance to the 200m in preparations for the European Championships in Sweden. Gregan has been in sparkling form this indoor season and will be the star attraction of the 200m field. Marcus Lawler and David Hynes both are doubling up and will target podium positions over the longer sprint distance.

Amy Foster will also aim for the sprint double as she heads the entrants for the women's 200m. Foster can expect a tough challenge from Niamh Whelan, Kelly Proper and Steffi Creaner (Dublin City Harriers AC) as all three athletes have demonstrated good early season form.

Crusaders AC trio Jason Harvey, Brian Murphy and Richard Morrissey headline a strong men's 400m field. Morrissey and Harvey placed second and third respectively at the national under 23 championships last weekend, both athletes will aim to go with step further on Sunday. Silver medallist from last year's outdoor championships Brian Murphy will make his 2013 debut over 400m. Dara Kervick (Carrick on Suir AC) and Timmy Crowe (Doneen AC) are another two athletes to watch out for on Sunday as the men's 400m promises to be one of the highlights of the weekend.

Christine McMahon (Ballymena & Antrim AC) will start as the firm favourite to take the women's 400m title. McMahon set a new personal best of 54.77 on route to victory at the University championships ten days ago. Shauna Cannon (Brother Pearse AC) placed second on that occasion with a new personal best of 56.15.