Michael McKillop

Name: Michael McKillop
D.O.B: 27/1/90
Club/County/Country: St Malachy’s AC, Belfast/ Co. Antrim/Ireland.
Occupation: Student (Belfast Metropolitan College).

Personal Profile

I would say that I am an all- round runner. I enjoy running on the country in the winter, but I love stepping onto the track in the spring. I regularly train 6 days a week, running up to 50 miles during the winter and also including 3 quality sessions. I am comfortable running 8k cross country down to 1500m / 800m on the track. Looking forward into my athletics career I would see myself becoming a middle distance athlete that can hang with the best, no matter what the surface.

 

 

2008-2009 Targets:

Michael is targeting making the Irish junior mens team for the Europeans before christmas (realistically he's 3/4 weeks behind where he should be due to Beijing!) Post xmas he would hope to make top 20 in the European clubs in early february and regarding the track next summer the targets would be to dip under 1:56 for 800m and break 4:00 for the 1500!

Personal Bests

• 800m: 1.57.2 (2007)
• 1500m: 4.08.5 (2007)
• 3k: 9.21.2 (2005)

Championships/ Competitive achievements:

• Double European paralyimpic silver medallist. (2005)
• World paralyimpic 1500m silver medallist. (2006)
• World paralyimpic 800m champion (2006)
• World record holder for the T37 800m (2006) 2:02.13
• Ulster schools able bodied senior boys 800m champion (2007)
• Ulster and Northern Ireland Junior men’s able bodied 1500m champion (2007)

Best Race

Running the World Paralyimpic championships in Assen Holland. The Irish support was awesome making it even better when I won T37 800m title and at the same time broke the world record for my category.

Worst race

Running the Celtic International cross country in Dublin 2005. It was my first international vest and I was all pumped up for it; but by half distance I was tailed off toward the back of the field, which I didn’t like. But a few days later a series of blood tests confirmed I was very anaemic, so at least I could understand why I had run so poorly. Didn’t take away the embarrassment though!

Favourite Colour: I would have to say green as I am a proud Irishman.

Favourite Music: I am the kind of guy that would listen to all sorts of music, but if I was to choose one type it would be light rock; bands I like, include the artic monkeys, pigeon detectives and many more.

Favourite cartoon: I would have to say good old Noddy, loved him since I was a wee boy.

Hobbies: Playing a bit of basketball when I get the time and playing Xbox 360.

I love my Cascadia trail shoe and believe they are the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn, and unlike many other trail shoes I feel at home on any surface in them.

Michael meets Colin Jackson









My favourite competition shoe is the Mach 10 cross-country spikes. A glove-like fit with plenty of support and rugged enough for the most challenging conditions, whilst still being quite light