The talented Ciara Mageean of Lisburn AC has been named as the Crowne Plaza Athlete of the Month for May.
This was awarded following Mageean’s terrific performance at the Irish Schools’ Track and Field Championships when she set a new Irish Junior 800m record of 2:05.38, beating none other than her sporting hero, Sonia O’Sullivan’s 1987 record of 2:05.72.
As Mageean is only 17, this time also stands as a youth record and puts her on top of the 800m rankings for 2009 and in the top 20 All-time list in the 800m.
Mageean, who was representing Assumption Grammer School, Ballynahinch, led from the gun in the Senior 800m, with Ciara Everard (Presentation, Kilkenny) on her shoulder.
From the bell Mageean began to edge away from her rival and with 200m to go showed her pace and pulled away for a commanding win in a phenomenal time.
The talented Lisburn teenager had a very successful Track and Field season in 2008 when she finished ninth at the World Junior Track & Field Championships, running a personal best of 4:21.20 in the 1500m.
She then went on to take a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India. Mageean improved on her 1500m personal best in March this year when winning the Woodie’s DIY National Indoor Championships in a National Junior Indoor Record of 4.20.88.
Mageean further improved her 1500m time when winning in convincing fashion in 4.18.52 at the Manheim Junior Gala in Germany last weekend, setting a new Youth Record and edges closer to the National Junior 1500m record of 4.17.84 set by Natalie Davey in 1991.
Mageean will have the opportunity to go for this record when she represents Ireland at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) team in Tampere, Finland next month.
