Rome 2024: Day 3 Evening Session

MAGIC MAGEEAN MAKES HISTORY IN ROME

Ciara Mageean has won a gold medal in the 1500m final at the European Athletics Championships in Rome this evening (June 9th).

The Portaferry athlete burst through a gap between the British pair of Jemma Reekie and Georgia Bell coming into the final 100 meters, kicking for home to cross in a winning time of 4:04.66.

It's a third European outdoor medal for Mageean after her bronze in Amsterdam in 2016 and the silver won in Munich in 2022.

Speaking after the race, Mageean said: "Words can't even come close" was Mageean's initial reaction when she spoke to RTÉ Sport afterwards. Everybody back home knows how long I have been doing this, how hard I have been trying. I've had so many times when I've come off races and not felt the way I am today. I went out on that track today super nervous, but I had a plan and a mission, that was to hear Amhrán na bhFiann.”

Sarah Healy also went in the race, finishing in a superb seventh place in her first senior European final in a time of 4:06.77 to offer her plenty of confidence heading into the run-in to Paris.

Ireland enjoyed another piece of history earlier in the schedule with both Rhasidat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley securing their places in tomorrow’s 400m final (8.50pm).

Adeleke cruised through to the final in 50.54Q, a time that would see her claim first place in her heat and rank as the fastest time of all qualifiers.

Mawdsley joined her relay teammate in tomorrow's medal decider with a brilliant 50.99 second place finish to claim an automatic qualification place.

Sophie Becker posted the second fastest time of her career to finish in fourth place (51.54) in her respective heat which was just shy of progressing. It did complete the remarkable feat of three Irish athletes finishing within the top 10 at a European Championships.

Chris O'Donnell's individual championship also came to an end at the semi-final stage with the North Sligo AC athlete posting the bravest of runs to finish fourth in 45.72 which was short of qualifying. O’Donnell would later be disqualified as the result of a lane infringement.

Mark Smyth enjoyed a superb day in the men’s 200m, posting two season’s best performances across the morning and evening sessions. Ultimately the Raheny would bow out in the semi-final with a 20.86 SB for 16th in Europe.

Results Summary:

• Rhasidat Adeleke – Women’s 400m – 1st in Semi Final in 50.54Q
• Sharlene Mawdsley – Women’s 400m – 2nd in Semi Final in 50.99Q
• Sophie Becker – Women’s 400m - 4th in Semi Final in 51.54
• Christopher O’Donnell – Men’s 400m - 4th in Semi Final in 45.72
• Mark Smyth – Men’s 200m – 5th in Semi Final in 20.86 SB
• Ciara Mageean – Women’s 1500m – 1st in 4:04.66
• Sarah Healy – Women’s 1500m – 7th in 4:06.77
• Full results list: HERE

THRILLING DAY 4 AHEAD FOR TEAM IRELAND IN ROME (MONDAY JUNE 10TH):

The women’s 400m final will headline Ireland’s involvement on day 4 of these championships with relay teammates Rhasidat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley set to take to the medal decider at the Stadio Olimpico (8.50pm Irish time).

There is also no shortage of star names taking to the track for Ireland in tomorrow’s morning session, with Phil Healy leading the charge in the first of the women’s 200m heats from 9.35am. Healy will be hoping to use her 400m strength to secure safe passage through to the evening’s semi-final set for 8.05pm.

The dynamic duo of Andrew Corcoran and Nick Griggs will go in search of qualification from the opening round of the men’s 1500m from 10.20am, while Louise Shanahan makes her Rome debut in the heats of the 800m at 10.50am.

Thomas Barr returns to the track following today’s brilliant heat-winning-display where the Ferrybank athlete will likely need to go even faster if he is to progress from the 400m hurdles semi-finals set for a 11.40am start.

The evening session will see the return of Nicola Tuthill to the hammer cage at 8.33pm as she takes to her first European senior final, before Irish eyes turn to the women’s 400m final where Rhasidat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley go in search of more Irish athletics history.

Irish Athlete Schedule (times listed in Irish time with Italian local time in brackets):

Day Four – Monday June 10th

Morning Session

• Phil Healy – Women’s 200m – Round One – 09:35 (10:35)
• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 10:20 (11:20)
• Nick Griggs – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 10:20 (11:20)
• Louise Shanahan – Women’s 800m – Round One – 10:50 (11:50)
• Thomas Barr – Men’s 400m Hurdles – SF – 11:40 (12:40)

Evening Session

• Phil Healy – Women’s 200m – SF – 20:05 (21:05) *
• Nicola Tuthill – Women’s Hammer Throw – Final – 20:33 (21:33)
• Rhasidat Adeleke – Women’s 400m – Final – 20:50 (21:50)
• Sharlene Mawdsley – Women’s 400m – Final – 20:50 (21:50)

Day Five – Tuesday June 11th

Morning Session

• Louise Shanahan – Women’s 800m – SF – 09:10 (10:10) *
• Men’s 4x400m Relay – Round One – 09:45 (10:45)
• Women’s 4x400m Relay – Round One – 10:15 (11:15)
• Men’s 4x100m Relay – Round One – 11:00 (12:00)

Evening Session

• Thomas Barr – Men’s 400m Hurdles – Final – 20:05 (21:05) *
• Anika Thompson – Women’s 10,000m – Final – 20:30 (21:30)
• Laura Mooney – Women’s 10,000m – Final – 20:30 (21:30)
• Phil Healy – Women’s 200m – Final – 21:53 (22:53) *

Day Six – Wednesday June 12th

Evening Session

• Brian Fay – Men’s 10,000m – B Race – 19:12 (20:12) **
• Efrem Gidey – Men’s 10,000m – B Race – 19:12 (20:12) **
• Peter Lynch – Men’s 10,000m – B Race – 19:12 (20:12) **
• Cormac Dalton – Men’s 10,000m – B Race – 19:12 (20:12) **
• Barry Keane – Men’s 10,000m – B Race – 19:12 (20:12) **
• Women’s 4x400m Relay – Final – 20:06 (21:06) *
• Men’s 4x400m Relay – Final – 20:19 (21:19) *
• Louise Shanahan – Women’s 800m – Final – 20:31 (21:31) *
• Brian Fay – Men’s 10,000m – Final – 20:44 (21:44) **
• Efrem Gidey – Men’s 10,000m – Final – 20:44 (21:44) **
• Peter Lynch – Men’s 10,000m – Final – 20:44 (21:44) **
• Cormac Dalton – Men’s 10,000m – Final – 20:44 (21:44) **
• Barry Keane – Men’s 10,000m – Final – 20:44 (21:44) **
• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 1500m – Final – 21:26 (22:26) *
• Nick Griggs – Men’s 1500m – Final – 21:26 (22:26) *
• Men’s 4x100m Relay – Final – 21:50 (22:50) *

*Subject to Advancing

**Seeding TBC at later date

ENDS

NOTES

• Athlete interviews will be available on Athletics Ireland’s Facebook page throughout the week.