Ciara edged out in 1500m final

Ciara edged out in 1500m final

15 August 2018

PORTAFERRY’S Ciara Mageean agonisingly missed out on a podium place by less than a second in the European Championships 1500m final in Berlin on Sunday night.

Mageean couldn’t reel in Britain’s Laura Weightman to take the bronze medal in a race dominated by European indoor champion Laura Muir.

The race favourite set a good pace through the first lap and with compatriot Weightman peeled away from the field.

Mageean made her move on the bell and was on Weightman’s shoulder coming round the last bend, but she failed to find a finishing kick.

Muir pushed on to take gold ahead of Poland’s Sofia Ennaoui.

“I’m bitterly disappointed,” Mageean said afterwards. “I came to try and bring another medal home for Ireland to join Tom Barr with some metal around my neck.

“I gave it everything out there and just fell short. It was a tough run. I’m proud to be able to go out there and give everything in the Irish vest. I do, however, take a lot from this and I am improving all the time,” she added.

“This was a much better field than two years ago when I got bronze. Laura is a world class athlete and I am just not yet up with her. Weightman had an extra gear and I thought I had her. I can hold my head high after that.”