Ciara Mageean has become the first Irish female athlete to run 800 metres in under two minutes.
Down native Ciara Mageean has become the first Irish female athlete to run a sub two minute 800 metre. Her first race since track and field events were allowed to resume, the athlete set a personal best - also breaking the current Irish record in the process.
Having kept up her training by means of an altitude training camp in Switerzland, the runner became the first Irish woman to achieve the feat at a track meeting in Bern - a significant milestone for Mageean and the sport of Irish distance running as a whole.
Celebrating the record achievement online, Ciara tweeted to say:
"I am absolutely delighted. With the disappointment of everything this year, Olympics postponed and lockdown for months, my coach, my team mates and I put our heads down and worked hard.
Devastated I won't run for Ireland this year but I'll continue to work and build on this for 2021 and beyond.
Only the beginning of the few races I'll run this season bt I'm so grateful for the support of my coach @stevevernonrun and @teamnbmcr team mates and everyone back home."
This comes on the same day that the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics would have taken place, making the victory all the sweeter for Ciara who was due to compete there this year.
Finishing with an inspired "onto the next one", it doesn't look like there will be any stopping her.
Header image via Twitter/Ciara Mageean
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