ATHLETICS: ALLYN Condon has been drafted into the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for this week's IAAF World Indoor Champion-ships in Hungary.
The 29-year-old 'Runcorn Rocket' comes into the 200m as a late replacement for Cardiff's Christian Malcolm, who has withdrawn due to a hamstring injury.
Malcolm has withdrawn from the World Indoors, in Budapest from tomorrow through to Sunday, so not to imperil his Olympic hopes.
Castlefields-based Condon is a high-calibre and experienced deputy who has been a regular at the world indoors and has earned himself a reputation as a specialist on the boards.
But he will be hoping for better luck than he enjoyed in last year's event at Birmingham, where he double false-started in the final and was disqualified after running under protest.
On form, the Sale Harrier has every chance of winning a medal, which would stand him in good stead for a likely step up to 400m outdoors for a shot at this summer's Olympics in Greece.
On the last day of January, he ran 20.64 secs - then the fastest time in the world this year.
It came at Sheffield in qualifying at the North of England Championships.
But he opted out of the final, won by his training partner and fellow Runcornian Darren Scott, of Trafford AC.
Condon is still third quickest on the 2004 indoor rankings.
Ironically, his chances of selection for Hungary were hit last month when he pulled up with cramp in the semi-finals of the Norwich Union trials and AAAs Championships also held in Sheffield.
