The City of Lisburn AC athlete, ranked ninth on her season’s best, ran a tactically superb race throughout to put herself right in contention for a medal at the bell in what was one of the best 1500m fields ever assembled for a championship final.

NATIONAL RECORD AND 4TH IN THE WORLD FOR CIARA MAGEEAN

An outstanding run from one of the stars of Irish sport Ciara left it all out there and did us proud once again A national record in a global final!!

3:56.61 NR@Ask123ie #IrishAthletics pic.twitter.com/KvMvPjXfOD

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) August 22, 2023

Ciara Mageean went with the leading athletes in the race defining move with 300m to go but unfortunately could not reel in the front three of hot favourite Faith Kipyegon from Kenya (3:54.87), Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji (3:55.69), and Sifan Hassan from The Netherlands (3:56.00).

Speaking after the race, the Portaferry runner said:

“To be honest, to be disappointed with 4^th is probably a good thing. I came in with the aim of a medal because it’s the best I’ve ever felt coming into a championships. To come away with 4^th is bittersweet but I’ve had the season of my life.”

"To come away with fourth is so bittersweet. I'll probably have a wee bit of a cry.

"But many years ago I wouldn't have dreamt of fourth in the world.

"I just know that I have it, it's there. Another year to Olympics."

– @ciaramageean. #TeamIreland #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/sO5fa1OLlD

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) August 22, 2023

The European silver medallist added:

“Many years ago I wouldn’t have dreamt of 4th at a global senior final and I’m standing her disappointed with 4th and a national record so I know I can do it. It’s another year to the Olympics, and I’m putting myself in with a fighting chance with the best 1500m athletes in the world”.

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝟭𝟱𝟬𝟬𝗺 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹! @ciaramageean runs a brilliant 3:56.61 to claim fourth in the world and a new National Record!

Gold goes to the phenomenal Faith Kipyegon. #TeamIreland #WorldAthleticsChamps #Budapest2023 pic.twitter.com/fW2cDvcaOZ

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) August 22, 2023

“I ran the race perfectly and did the best I could so I’ll walk away with my head held high. The dream lives on and I’ve many races ahead of me next year and the year after”, said Mageean.

This evening’s excellent performance continues a remarkable period for the Irish record holder who achieved Commonwealth Games and European silver medals in the last 12 months.

The post Ciara Mageean 4th in World 1500m Final appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The Portaferry athlete, who recently took silver in the event at the Commonwealth Games, chased home Laura Muir again on this occasion.

In an exciting final, the Irishwoman took up the early running before Muir took the lead with two laps of the three-and-three-quarter lap contest remaining.

With Scot Muir winning in 4:01.08, 30-year-old Mageean crossed the line in a season’s best time of 4:02.56. Poland’s Sofia Ennaoui took bronze in 4:03.59.

Scenes we won’t forget

pic.twitter.com/mP89heC7tF

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) August 19, 2022

The post Ciara Mageean wins European 1500m silver medal appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The pair experienced some tough competition and were unable to keep up with the leading packs.

Ciara Mageean finished tenth in her race and went across the finish line in the first heat with a time of 4:07.29.

Sarah Healy rounded off her Olympics with an 11th-placed finish courtesy of a time of 4:09.78 in the final heat.

Mageean started her heat strongly but faded away as the race went on and she failed to keep up with her fellow competitors on the last lap.

The 2016 European Championship bronze medalist had a problem that hindered her performance in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.

Ciara Mageean tore her calf 8 days ago in her final hard track session – didn't run most of last week and began jogging again only on Saturday.

Tried her best to get to the line, tried her best in the race itself. Brutal timing for her.
@sportsfile#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/Vdh1hwoLNK

— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) August 2, 2021

The UCD athlete tore her calf eight days previous to the race and did not run for most of the last week as a result, only returning to jogging on Saturday.

The 29-year-old ran a much more impressive 4:02.48 at the Herculis in Monaco at the beginning of July and that time will stand as an example of what could have been.

Sarah Healy crossed the line two seconds slower than Mageean did in heat three of the Women’s 1500m.

Healy started well like her Team Ireland counterpart but fell away much earlier as the quickest heat proved to be too quick for the Olympian.

The 20-year-old was out of contention before the final lap and missed out on making a semi-final in her first Olympic games.

The Team Ireland athlete put her disappointing Olympic debut down to her nerves and race tactics.

The athlete, who also runs for UCD, noted that she had never felt as nervous as she did for her heat and felt that it may have played a part.

The pair will head home after failing to qualify for the semi-finals but they will have high hopes for Paris 2024 in three years.

To find out who the other Irish athletes competing on Monday, August 2nd are, click here.

The post Team Ireland Athletes Mageean and Healy Fail To Reach 1500m Semis appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.