ATHLETICS Double Medal Success for Irish Athletes at European Youth Olympics

Ireland’s Ciara Mageean, City of Lisburn AC and Shane Quinn, Ferrybank AC have won gold and silver medals at the European Youth Olympics in Tampere Finland.

Ciara produced an exceptional record breaking performance to win gold in the 1500m in 4.15.46 at the European Youth Olympics in Finland. This time is a new Irish Youth Record and a new Irish Junior Record and a new Championships Best Performance. This record was previously held by Romania’s Gabriela Szabo.  One of Magaeen’s heroes Sonia O’Sullivan, who is part of the management team, was track side to cheer her to victory and to see the record of one of her greatest rivals tumble.

In the typical bold running style of Ciara, she took the race out from the start with Britain’s Lauren Proctor. With a lap to go the seventeen year old made a break and was a clear winner by 30 metres, with Doaga of Romania coming second in 4.18.44. Speaking of the victory Ciara said “I went out there to try my best, I gave it everything, I am really tired now but I am delighted to have won the race.”

Shane Quinn of Ferrybank AC secured the Silver medal in the 3000m. The Waterford boy gave a gutsy performance and was in a state of exhaustion after the race, taking over twenty minutes to get back on his feet. Great Britain’s Callum Hawkins was a clear winner in 8.23.62 minutes, with Quinn recording 8.30.12 minutes and Russia’s Il’gizar Safiulin claiming third in 8.32.53 minutes. Safiulin (Russia) and Quinn took out the early laps and did all the hard work with the Hawkins (GBR) sitting in throughout. Hawkins then made a decisive move with 300m to take the title. Shane battled up the home straight to get the better of the Russian and was “thrilled to bits” with his medal haul.

For Further Information: www.athleticsireland.ie