Mageean takes silver in Italy

LISBURN’s Ciara Mageean has put Irish women’s middle distance running back on the map with a silver medal yesterday in the World Youth Championships 800m final in Sudtirol, Italy.

She clocked 2.03.07, a new Junior Irish record which smashes the old mark of 2:05.38 she set at the Irish Schools Championships in May when breaking Sonia O’Sullivan’s 1987 record of 2:05.72.

Kenya’s Cherono Koech won the race in 2.01.67 in a championship record with Britain’s Rowena Cole 2.03.83 placing third.