DAY 4: COSCORAN CLAIMS 9TH IN EUROPE AS FLANAGAN 14TH

POSTED:

Andrew Coscoran has secured a 9th place finish in the final of the 1500m at the European Championships in Munich.

Coscoran ran a controlled race, sitting back from the blisteringly hot pace set by Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen which would ultimately see the Olympic champion claim the European crown in a winning time of 3.32.76 which was a championship record.

Coscoran broke well from the gun and found himself to the fore of the leading pack before deciding to ease off the pace set by the Norwegian. The Star of the Sea athlete was in contention for top 6 at the bell but an unrelating pace from those in the leading positions resulted in those places remaining in situ over the final 200m. It ends another superb championships for Coscoran who will continue his outdoor season over the coming weeks.

The 1500m silver and bronze medals went the way of Jake Heyward (GBR) 3:34.44 and GARCÍA Mario Garcia (ESP) 3:34.88.

It was 14th place in Europe for Roisin Flanagan in the 5,000m final. The Finn Valley athlete crossed the finish in 15.33.72 which was just seven seconds outside the PB which she posted earlier this month.

The medals went the way of Konstanze Klosterhalfen (GER) 14:50.47, Yasemin Can (TUR) 14:56.91, and Eilish McColgan (GBR) 14:59.34.

DAY 5: FRIDAY 16THMAGEEAN READY FOR 1500M SHOWDOWN

Day 5 of will see Ciara Mageean go in search of her second European Championship medal in the 1500m final set for 7.45pm (Irish time). The 2016 bronze medallist will take to the start in Friday’s medal decider having looked imperious in her semi-final which she dominated from gun to tape.

The City of Lisburn star will face up against a quality field however, including Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir (GBR) who Mageean finished second to in the recent Commonwealth Games 1500m final earlier this month.

There is no shortage of athletes who will have eyes on the medals, and even though championship races can be tactical affairs, it will be no surprise if Mageean has to challenge Sonia O’Sullivan’s national 1500m record of 3.58.85 to get onto her second podium of the month.

There will also be no shortage of drama and excitement for Irish sprint fans early tomorrow morning, with the men’s 4x100m relay team set to take to the heats at 9.00am.

The line-up of Israel Olatunde, Mark Smyth, Colin Doyle, and Joseph Ojewumi will start from lane 2 in their bid to claim one of the 3 automatic qualifying places for Sunday’s final. It promises to be a burn up from the gun and the national 4x100m record of 39.23 could potentially be the third Irish record to fall at these championships.

The women’s 4x400m relay team will also be in action tomorrow morning, boasting another strong Irish relay line-up of Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Sharlene Mawdsley. The team take their place in the second of the semi-finals at 10.51am and again will face up against strong opposition from Netherlands, France, and hosts Germany.

Irish 400m running has been on fire this season, and with 4 of the top 6 fastest Irish 400m women in history in the line-up, the Irish team are sure to be right in contention for Saturday’s final come the final changeover.

Irish eyes will be focused on the 800m semi-finals from an individual perspective, with both Louise Shanahan and 2014 bronze medallist Mark English set to return to the track for their second appearances of the week.

English looked hugely impressive in taking first place in today’s heat (1.47.54Q), and he will be expecting to mix it with the best in Europe once again come Sunday evening.

Louise Shanahan moved up another level again this season, backing up her Olympic qualification to become Ireland’s fastest ever women over 800m earlier this year. Shanahan’s semi-final is stacked with quality however, with half of the 8-runner-field boasting personal bests under 1.59.00, including gold medal favourite Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) who has clocked a 1.56.38 this season.

DAY 5: FRIDAY 16TH

Team Ireland European Championships

(Times listed in Irish Time)

  • 9.00am Men’s 4x100m Heat 1: Team Ireland
  • 9.50am Women’s 800m Semi-Final 1: Louise Shanahan
  • 10.51am: Women’s 4x400m Heat 2: Team Ireland
  • 7.34pm Men’s 800m Semi-Final 2: Mark English
  • 7.45pm Women’s 1500m Final: Ciara Mageean

Entry Lists and full results: HERE

Where to watch: HERE

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