American Benjamin Blankenship has become the first man to run a sub four minute indoor mile in Ireland.

The member of the Oregon Track Club won in a time of 3 minutes 56.76 seconds in the feature event of tonight's Athlone IT Grand Prix, but there was disappointment for Ciaran O'Lionaird, who tied up in the closing 400 metres and failed to get the qualifying time for the upcoming European Indoor championships.

Earlier, former world 100m record holder Asafa Powell, who was the star attraction at tonight's meet, was forced to withdraw from the men's 60 metres after he injured his groin during the warm-up.