Athletics: Gillick & Nolan Goth chance of European glory.

Byline: By TOM O'RIORDAN

THE youthful David Gillick and the vastly experienced James Nolan can make a promising start for the Irish when the European Athletics Championships get under way in Gothenburg this morning.

Gillick can get his first major outdoor challenge off to a flying start by qualifying for the semi-finals of the 400 metres, one of the most competitive events of the week.

Then it will be the turn of Nolan to show his vast experience gained from competing in two Olympic Games and a couple of World Championships.

Nolan has won a European indoor silver medal over 1,500 metres but has yet to make the final of a major outdoor event.

"I have prepared all year to be at a peak for these championships and I feel confident I'm running well enough to do that," said Nolan, an Olympic semi-finalist in Athens.

He's ran strongly this year and a 3:38.51 in Oslo and a 3:37.96 in Athens has put him in with a good chance of being in the final on Wednesday night.

The 1,500m will also give an opportunity to 23-year-old Liam Reale from Limerick. He is finally fulfiling the potential he showed when finishing fourth in the European Junior a couple of years ago.

Nevertheless, it's clear from the draws there is nothing easy.

Nolan is up against gold medal favourite Ivan Heshko of the Ukraine and three others who have run faster than him. The top four and the four fastest losers will advance to the final.

Reale, too, may find it hard to survive, with seven of his opponents having run faster this season.

Of course Gillick has been an Irish gold medal hero in the past, winning a memorable European indoor 400m title in such devastating style in Madrid 18 months ago but now the Dubliner wants to make his mark on the outdoor arena.

Gillick has blossomed into a quality one-lapper, defeating the very capable national record holder, Paul McKee, to take the Irish title three weeks ago in 45.67, a lifetime best.

Gillick, McKee and David McCarthy make up a three-pronged attack on the 400m where Leslie Djhone of France is the fastest man in the field with an impressive 44.64.

The three Irishman go in separate heats this morning and I fancy Gillick and McKee to advance to the next round although McCarthy too has an outside chance. Unfortunately, McKee has been drawn in lane nine right on the outside and that is always intimidating.

Gillick is in the more favourable lane four - with the top three and the four fastest losers going to semi-finals.

Gillick is the fourth fastest man in the field which suggests he will qualify.

"At the start of the summer my coach (Jim Kidd) and I sat down and worked out a plan that would bring me to a peak of fitness for these Europeans and I'm very happy about how things have worked out so far," said Gillick.

McCarthy will probably need to run close to his best of 46.05 to survive.

The first Irish athlete in action today is Eileen O'Keeffe in Group A of the women's hammer qualifying competition where there are 40 declared competitors.

Only the top 12 will advance to the final and the Kilkenny thrower, who has a best of 69.36 metres, has eight opponents who have exceeded 70 metres and overall she looks to have an impossible task.

Michelle Carey has also received the dreaded lane eight for her heat of the 400m hurdles where four of her seven opponents have run faster.

However, Carey has been running well all summer but will need to show further improvement to make the semi-finals.

Marie Davenport from Ennis lines up along with 27 others for the women's 10,000m tonight in a field that includes gold medal favourite, Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey.

Davenport's best this year is 32:44.36 while Abeylegesse has run 30:21.67.

CAPTION(S):

IN THE RUNNING: Vastly experienced James Nolan