Ciara Mageean said she intends her European Championships bronze to be the first of many after her brilliant run in Amsterdam put Ireland on the medals table.
Mageean was just 0.02 of a second behind second-placed Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands with Poland's Angelika Cichocka claiming the 1500m gold in a time of 4:33.00.
The Portaferry woman believes she would have finished in the top two had she got a clear run at the home straight, as a bunched, slow race left her boxed in when she was ready to kick.
“It was a very slow tactical race for 1500," she told RTÉ Sport. "I made sure I had something in the tank for the last 100 because through the whole championship, that’s what’s winning medals, people being able to hold on and kick for that last 100.
“I know I have a kick and I can outkick any girl in the field. I wish I’d had another 10 metres on that home straight."
“I wanted to run the shortest race I could so I tried to get the inside but that meant I was in danger of getting boxed in. Down that home straight I just couldn’t get past the girls. Had I a clean run at the last 100, I think I’d have a different colour medal around my neck.
“I know I have a kick and I can outkick any girl in the field. I wish I’d had another 10 metres on that home straight.
“I was saying in my head, ‘this is fantastic girls, keep running slow because I’m happy to outsprint you come the end’.
“I tried to take the inside and one of the girls cut me off. I’m a little bit frustrated; I wish I had a clear run at that home straight. I know now I’m not tired. I finished that race and I nearly want to put my head in my hands, and go,’ God, there’s more in me!’."
Mageean won World Junior silver medallist six years ago but has been hit by a series of injuries that threaten to derail her huge talent and ambition.
Ciara Mageean's lung-busting run to clinch bronze (and very nearly silver) at the European Championships. #RTEsporthttps://t.co/qw4H51jjcN
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 10, 2016
Now injury free and in outstanding form, the 24-year-old is straining at the leash to make up for lost time.
“This time three years ago I was having ankle surgery so to be a little bit disappointed only to have a bronze, and to be one of the only Irish athletes ever to win a medal at a Europeans, I have to take everyone’s advice and just enjoy it," she said.
"I’m excited, I have another championship this summer and this is a very good position for me to be in. This is ground zero and I’m going to keep building on that. This is my very first medal for Ireland as a senior – hopefully it’s the first of many.
"Whenever I walk off that ferry boat in Portaferry I have the people smiling at me and saying ‘you’re putting our little town on the map’.
"It’s not only Portaferry it’s the parishes around me, parishes I would have been big rivals with growing up. I wouldn’t have dreamed of going near their club jerseys .
"When I was playing camogie you wouldn’t have put a Ballycran jersey anywhere near me! These people are getting behind me and showing me support. It’s everyone around Northern Ireland and Ireland. I can’t thank them enough."
