McKillop breaks two world records

WHAT a week it has been for Newtownabbey athlete Michael McKillop.

The Glengormley runner celebrated his 21st birthday in style by setting two world records at the Paralympic World Athletics Championships in New Zealand.

McKillop, who has a mild form of cerebral palsy, knocked two seconds off the 1500m record for a time of 4:14.70. In his next race, the T37 800m, he came home in 1:58.90 shaving one second off his previous world-beating time.

Despite a memorable display in the 1500 metre event, the local man was not awarded a medal because rules state there must be a minimum of three competitors in the race. His only opposition came from Algerian, Khaled Hanani.

But the reigning Paralympic Olympic Games champ bolstered his medal collection when he powered home in the final lap of the 800 metres to claim gold in Christchurch.

McKillop is coached by his father, Paddy, and prepared for New Zealand with six weeks of warm-weather training in South Africa.