Mageean Completes European Medal Set in Rome

The Commonwealth and multiple European medalists produced a stunning sprint finish finding a gap in the last 80m to take the win in a time of 4:04.66 ahead of GB & NI’s Georgia Bell. This Gold completes her set of European medals having won silver in Munich in 2022 and Bronze in 2016.

Ciara is going back to St Moritz next week to prepare for the Olympics in Paris, and this performance is evidence once again that she can be a real contender for medals in the French capital on 10 August.

Callum Baird (Ian Neely) built on his World Championship experience from last year and grasped his opportunity to show his 400m relay abilities when anchoring the Irish team to 10^th place overall, recording an outstanding 45.14 second split for the one lap in the process.

Nick Griggs (Mark Kirk) ran in the first heat of the men’s 1500m at the European Championships in Rome. In a very slow tactical race and despite running 1.50. for his last 800m this proved not to be enough to advance him into the final, but will add an additional layer to his championship racing experience.

North Belfast Harriers athlete Emily Haggard Kearney (Ronan Kearney) had her Irish debut in the Half Marathon in Rome and battled hot conditions to finish 64^th in 77.04.

Elsewhere in the past week

In Watford at the BMC Grand Prix there were some good performances from local athletes.

Callum Morgan finished 6th in the men’s B 1500m in a pb of 3.42.91. There was also a pb for Conall McClean in the men’s A 5000m running 14.03.43 which was a thirteen second improvement on his previous best.

In the women’s E 800m Rebecca Osbourne took the win in a pb of 2.09.91.

Hannah Irwin also ran a pb finishing 3rd in the women’s 5000m in a time of 15.31.75.

Over in Spain Emer Mckee representing Ireland at an U18 international, won the girls 3000m in 10.23.67 in hot breezy conditions.

Conor Kelly, still U18, ran an impressive 47.38 to win the South of England 400m Championships in Eton.

At the NI & Ulster Championships at Mary Peters Track there were numerous excellent performances in less-than-ideal weather conditions. Of particular note was an U17 sprint double for Orangegrove AC’s Ben Sykes who ran PBs in the 100m (10.83) and 200m (22.15).