McIlroy proves point

McIlroy defeated Ricky Soos in clocking 1:45.56 at Crystal Palace

Northern Ireland's James McIlroy has been invited to compete in next Friday's prestigious Weltklasse meeting in Zurich.

However, it will be little compensation for the 26-year-old Larne athlete, who will not be going to the World Championships in Paris in two weeks time.

McIlroy came third in Friday's evening Norwich Union London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace, and handed the British selectors a headache by beating the World Championships ''A'' mark with a time of one minute 45.56 seconds.

The selectors had already chosen AAA champion Ricky Soos, who has yet to make the mark, and McIlroy could be justified for thinking he getting the rough end of the stick.

The 20-year-old Soos was fourth at Crystal Palace, behind McIlroy in a personal best 1:46.06.

McIlroy has now twice bettered the ''A'' standard, having won the 800m at the Karelia Games in 1:45.62 last week.

McIlroy will be out to prove his point again next week in Zurich, an event which is generally regarded as the top meeting on the athletics Grand Prix circuit.