Mageean hits a high in 1,500m

ATHLETICS:CIARA MAGEEAN capped off her astonishing junior track career by running 4:07.45 seconds for 1,500 metres, when winning the British Milers Club meeting in Birmingham.

This not only improved Mageean’s own Irish junior record by over two seconds, and moves her to fourth on the all-time senior list, but is inside the London Olympic B-standard of 4:08.90 – and gives the Olympic Council of Ireland some food for thought on whether the young Down athlete, still aged only 19, should be selected even if they’re insisting on A-standards only.

Mageean’s previous record was the 4:09.51 she ran last July to win the silver medal at the World Junior Championships in Canada, yet her 4:07.45 fairly well smashed that, and saw her beat Britain’s leading senior Jemma Simpson in the process, who was second in 4:07.53.

Mageean is now also the second fastest-ranked junior in the world this summer, behind Tizita Bogale of Ethiopia who won last year’s World Junior Championships.

Two weeks ago she also ran 2:02.31 for 800 metres, just off the 2:01.30 B-standard for London – and last month won the silver medal over 1,500 metres at the European Junior Championships, having lead all the way until the finish.

Back at home, Deirdre Ryan and Claire Bergin polished form ahead of next week’s World Championships in South Korean by winning the high jump and 400 metres respecting at the League Finals in Tullamore, on Saturday.

These two victories helped DSD to comprehensive 16 points winning margin over Bandon for the Premier title as Ferrybank suffered from injuries. Clonliffe won their fourth Premier men’s title from a gallant St Abbans from Carlow and they, too, had a few prolific points scorers, not least Danny Kavanagh, who ran a lifetime best of 10.89 to win the 100 metres while Pat O’Connor was second in the 200.

RESULTS: Men’s Premier League: 1, Clonliffe Harriers 118; 2, St Abbans 101; 3, North Down 99.5.

Division One: 1, Galway 114; 2, Galway City Harriers 98; 3, Clare County 92.

Women’s Premier League: 1, DSD AC 127; 2, Bandon 110; 3, Leevale 104.

Division One: 1, Clonliffe Harriers 113; 2, Raheny 108; 3, St Abbans 98.