Mageean mixes with Europe's best to make 1500m final
Ciara Mageean (UCD) continued the excellent form of the Irish women at the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam with an impressive performance to qualify for the women’s 1500m final.
The UCD athlete, coached by Jerry Kiernan, finished third in heat 1 of the women’s 1500m in 4:13.61. The championship favourites were ahead of her – Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) won in 4:13.45 with Poland’s Angelika Cichoka second in 4:13.47.
“I was really happy with my physicality,” said Mageean afterwards. “It’s my first major championships for a few years so it’s good to get out and use the elbows. I love to run for Ireland and wear the green, white and gold.”
Mageean will run the final at 16:45 Irish time live on RTE 2 on Sunday and she’s relishing the prospect. “This is what you run for,” she said. “Hassan and Cichoka are the favourites but I’ll be going in there with a number of others with a chance. It’s all well and good saying it, it’s another doing it.”
Marcus Lawler (St Laurence O’Toole) ran an aggressive bend in lane 1 of the first men’s 200m semi-final but didn’t have enough to advance finishing 7th in 21.33. “That wasn’t good enough,” said Lawler afterwards. “I ran a hard bend to get in the mix but it wasn’t enough. I want to be making finals and hopefully in the coming years I will be.”
Amy Foster (City of Lisburn) rounded out Irish action on Day 3 finishing 7th in the third 100m semi-final in 11.62.
The Irish had a great morning session with Michelle Finn (Leevale), Sara Treacy (Dunboyne) and Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle) creating history by all advancing to the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final while Christine McMahon (Ballymena & Antrim) qualified for the women’s 400m hurdles semi-final.
For the morning report click HERE
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Irish interest gets underway tomorrow with the women’s 4x400m relay team of Sinead Denny (DSD), Phil Healy (Bandon), Jenna Bromell (Emerald) and Ciara McCallion (Clonliffe Harriers) taking to the track at 12:55 in lane 3 of heat 2.
Barry Pender (St Abban’s) competes in the men’s high jump qualification at 13:10 in group B with 2.25m the automatic qualifying height.
The men’s 4x400m team of Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers), Craig Lynch (Shercock), David Gillick (DSD) and Thomas Barr (Ferrybank) are in lane 3 of heat 1 at 13:25.
In the evening session the men’s 4x100m relay team which will be started by double Paralympic gold medallist Jason Smyth (Derry City) at 18:40. He will be joined by Eanna Madden (Carrick on Shannon), Jonathan Browning (Ballymena & Antrim) and Marcus Lawler (SLOT). They will be in lane 5 in the first heat.
The women’s 4x100m relay team of Joan Healy, Phil Healy (both Bandon), Sarah Murray (Fingallians) and Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank) take to the track at 19:00 in lane 2 of heat 1.
Deirdre Byrne (Sli Cualann) goes in the women’s 5,000m final at 20:05. Unfortunatley Mary Cullen (North Sligo) has had to withdraw due to a hamstring issue.
