O'Sullivan wins at last

Sonia O'Sullivan won the 3,000 metres race in Bangor

Sonia O'Sullivan kept the crowd waiting before producing a winning performance at the North Down International Games on Friday night.

The Irish star's flight to Northern Ireland was delayed and did not touch down in Belfast until 2030 BST.

Her race specially-arranged 3,000 metres race eventually began at 2130 BST, 50 minutes behind schedule, but the crowd stayed on to see the Cork athlete win in a time of nine minutes 0.89 seconds.

Steve Backley made a successful return to action after missing last weekend's World Championships trials with a stomach upset.

Last year's Commonwealth and European javelin champion defended his title with an opening throw of 81.42 metres.

Second place went to Ainars Kovacs from Latvia with a best of 76.40m.

Michael Allen, runner-up in Birmingham last weekend, finished third with 74.23m.

Belgrave Harrier Neil Speaight was forced to settle for second in the 800 metres.

Ismael Mohammed swept to victory in the windy conditions in a good time of one minute 46.6 seconds, powering past Speaight who was half a second further back with Roman Oravec of the Czech Republic third in 1:47.80.

Belfast runner Gareth Turnbull finished fifth in 1.48.80, showing signs of fatigue after competing less than 24 hours before at the Linz Grand Prix One meeting.

Unimpressive performance

American Danielle Carruthers, ranked seventh in the world last year, was an easy winner of the women's 100m hurdles.

Her time of 13.43secs carried Carruthers well clear of Tamsin Stephens of Northern Ireland in 13.78secs. Third place went to Aurore Kassambre of France who clocked 13.86secs.

Matt Douglas, still hoping to clinch a 400 metres hurdles place in the British team for the World Championships, produced an unimpressive performance.

The former European junior bronze medallist finished third in 50.15secs, well short of of the Paris qualifying standard of 49.20secs.

Victory was claimed by Ockert Cilliers, the South African easily beating the USA's Fred Sharpe by 0.09secs.

The women's 400m fell easily to Antonia Yefremova. The Ukrainian was never troubled by the opposition, winning in 52.37secs.

Oksana Zbrozhek of Russia stormed past Scotland's Susan Scott in the final 30 metres to win the 800m.

Northern Ireland's Kelly McNiece took third place in 2:04.2, ahead of the Republic's Roisin McGettigan who ran 2:04.9.

Jamaica's Dwight Thomas won the 100m in a time of 10.46secs, holding off the challenge of American Bobby Williams by 0.10secs.