Mageean the toast of the Irish team

CIARA MAGEEAN arrived at Dublin Airport yesterday in bright spirits wearing the silver medal that she won in the 1500 metres at last week’s European Junior Track & Field Championships in Estonia.

The European silver medallist was accompanied by members of the Irish & team who all competed admirably in the championships.

“I was a bit disappointed at first to have been beaten for the gold medal but I am beginning to realise that what I did achieve was a very positive result,” Mageean said. “I learned a lot too from the experience of racing in these championships, so I am pretty happy now with what I have come home with.”

Mageean had not intended on taking an early lead in the 1500m final but with nobody willing to take on the pace making, the Lisburn starlet pushed things at the front. “A few injury niggles early in the year meant that this was not my most ideal training build up for a championship event,” Mageean said. “I would have preferred if I did not have to take the lead so early, but this is how things turned out.”

The Woodie’s DIY Track & Field Championships in early August will be the next target for Mageean, but it will only be after a meeting with her coach Eamonn Christie that she will decide which event she will enter — the 800m or 1500m.

“There was a great sense of team spirit on this trip to the European Championships,” she said. “It was great also to see Thomas Barr from Ferrybank AC make the 400m hurdles final and his event took place just before my final which was a great boost for me.”

Barr had an exceptional campaign, twice breaking the Irish junior 400m hurdles with a pb of 50.74 seconds.

“I surprised myself at these championships and it felt terrific to make the final in my event,” he said. “It was a great learning experience too and I am delighted with how well I competed.”