END OF THE WORLD FOR OUR CIARA
AS MIGHTY MO MAKES IT 10 GOLD MEDALS
CIARA Mageean’s World Championship 1500m attempt ended in disaster in London last night as she finished last in her heat. The 25-year-old had entered London 2017 ranked fifth in her heat and looked odds-on to claim one of the six automatic spots in the semifinal. ‘To be honest it’s just a disaster out there,’ said Mageean after finishing 13th and last, outside one of the six fastest loser spots. ‘Everything has been going good, I don’t know what the story is, I’m not here looking for an excuse.’ The European championship bronze medallist hung at the back of the pack early on as the Jessica Judd set a sharp opening pace of 65 seconds. As the pace slowed with two laps remaining, Mageean failed to make an impact on the field and defending champion Genzebe Dibaba won out in 4:02.67, from Caster Semenya. ‘I felt good, early pace was fine,’ said a shell-shocked Mageean. ‘I was just thinking, stay out of bother, don’t get caught up in the early bursts. ‘But then I just couldn’t get my legs to switch and like… I didn’t even fathom being out of the race. ‘It would have been fine,’ said Mageean, dismissing suggestions the early pace was too fast, ‘but my legs just didn’t turn on with two laps to go. Thirteenth place and a time of 4:10.60, nine seconds outside her personal best, was the result of Mageean’s first race of the Worlds. ‘Top six to qualify was very doable and it was a tough heat, I’ll give it that. ‘But I should have been in that top six, I definitely should have, I’m as good as all these girls – oh God!’ Day two of the championships sees Brian Gregan and Mark English begin their campaigns in their respective 400 metre and 800 metre heats. English has been drawn in a near-impossible heat, with the first three to qualify for the semi-final and six fastest losers from six heats.