800M MAN MCILROY RETIRES AT 31
By David Monti
(c) 2008 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

James McIlroy, an 800m semi-finalist at both the 2000 Olympic Games and 2005
World Championships, has decided to retire citing a lack of financial and medical
support.

"Ideally, it would have been nice to continue through to the 2010 Commonwealth
Games in New Delhi, but every sportsperson comes to this crossroads," said the
Northern Irish athlete through a prepared statement. "I set an indoor personal
best in the 1000m in Gent a few weeks ago (2:18.84) and am happy to go out
while still running at a good level."

McIlroy recorded personal best times of 1:44.65 for 800m and 2:15.57 for 1000m;
the latter mark made him the third-fastest Briton of all time. His key career
accomplishments were fourth place finishes over 800m in the 1998 European
Championships and the 2005 European Indoor Championships. He also finished sixth
at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time in running but now it's time to call it a day,"
McIlroy concluded, thanking his coaches Sean Kyle, Kim McDonald, Alan Storey,
Tony Lester and Mark Rowland for their guidance over the years.