Cian McPhillips from Longford started his 2020 season in the best possible way with a blistering performance in the AAI Indoor League meet at the Athlone IT Arena recently. From the gun, John Fitzsimons set a fast tempo of successive 30-second laps with Cian and Conall Hayes (Le Chéile AC) and Kevin McGrath (Bohermeen AC) in the lead group. Cian kicked for home from 300m out and covered the final 300m in 44 seconds to record a winning time of 3:44.85 to claim victory and an Irish U20 indoor 1500m record, erasing the previous record, set by Colin Costello, that had stood since 2005. on the day it was the fastest by a junior athlete in Europe so far this year and placed 17-year-old Cian comfortably inside the ‘A’ qualifying standard for the World Junior Outdoor Championships which will be held in Kenya in July. Coach, Joe Ryan, was delighted with the race and felt that Cian had more in the tank, which augurs well for the 2020 season.
Representing his school, Moyne Community School, in Longford, Cian competed in the American High School Mile at the Millrose Games at the 5,550-capacity Armory Arena in New York. Cian raced to victory at the world famous arena in 4:10.95, two seconds ahead of his nearest challenger with a final 100m in 13 seconds.
View race HERE
Results HERE
