MELANIE Purkiss returns to the scene of one of her greatest track triumphs in Ireland tomorrow.

It was at the Cork City Games of 1999 that the Team Solent sprinter - then a up-and-coming 20-year-old - had the audacity to beat Australia's 400 metres golden girl Cathy Freeman.

Having been outgunned by the world champion over 200 metres, Purkiss outsprinted the girl from Down Under in the 100 metres, clocking a wind assisted personal best of 11.55 seconds compared to Freeman's 11.58.

Her 200m time of 23.64 seconds that day still stands as a lifetime best, albeit that it was achieved with an overly helpful windspeed of +3.8.

Four years on Purkiss's career has veered off in an exciting, new direction. Under the guidance of coach Todd Bennett in Southampton, the former Mountbatten schoolgirl has ditched the short sprints to follow Freeman's footsteps into the one-lap event.

She came of age at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester last year, making the individual semi-final in her first serious season as a 400m runner and picking up silver in the 4x400m relay.

So far this summer, the 24-year-old has fallen short of last year's 52.99 personal best, but she is quietly confident of recapturing top form in time for the AAA Championships/World Trials later this month.

So confident, in fact, that she has no plans to run another 400m until the chips are down at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium on from July 25-27.

She signed off last Saturday with a 53.85 win for the south in the Inter-Area Match against the north and the Midlands.

Purkiss, who will sharpen with a 200m for England in Cork tomorrow, said: "I feel I'm running fast and I'm fit and I want to leave it at that until the AAAs.

"Last Saturday's run went fine. It wasn't as fast as I would have liked but the race itself wasn't very quick. The girl behind me clocked 55.33 and I'd been hoping for something more competitive, which is what I need now.

"I feel faster and stronger than I've ever been, but I haven't quite got it together technically. It's difficult to find the pace judgement. I keep hitting the 200m mark either too fast or too slow.

"Last week I felt I hit it right, but there weren't the people around me to push me through the last 100m."

Two other Team Solent athletes scored victories for the south at Birmingham - James Parker winning the 800m in 1.52.18 and Dan Turner clearing 2.05 metres in high jump.

Strongman Simon Fricker was a little down on his best, finishing third in the discus (47.55) and fourth in the shot (14.64).

Basingstoke & Mid Hants' Helena Tobin continued her hot 800m form, clocking 2.08.02 for second place.

Tobin's younger brother, Robert, travels to Hungary tomorrow looking to make the elusive 46.80 qualifying time he needs to make the European Under-23 Championships in Poland later this month (July 17-20).

The 19-year-old was disappointingly pegged back to fourth in the AAA Under-23 final at Bedford last weekend.

The surprise gold medallist, Allan Stuart of Shettleston Harriers, is already booked for Poland and becomes the first GB Paralympian to make the able-bodied team for a major Championship.

Stuart won 400m silver at the 2000 Paralympics in the learning disability category.

The English Schools' Track and Field Cup takes place at Southampton Sports Centre tomorrow, but there will be no Hampshire representatives.

The area's best hope, Toynbee School of Chandler's Ford, were knocked out at the regional final stage.