Fresh from winning the 800m and 1500m double at the National Senior Championships, Ciara Mageean says she is looking to continue her upward trajectory at the upcoming European Championships in Berlin.
The 26-year-old stamped her class at Morton Stadium to become the first female athlete to complete that double since Sonia O'Sullivan in 2000 and was convincing in both races.
Her second gold in Santry was wrapped up just 75 minutes after crossing the line first in the 800m, and will concentrate solely on the 1500m event in Germany next week.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, the 2016 Olympian says her sights are firmly set on making an impression on the high-quality field.
"I know it is going to be a really tough Championships. The women’s 1500m is red-hot at the moment," she said.
"I know what I am capable of. Now it is to go out there and produce it on the track"
"I’m going to go into with the same kind of mindset that I do for every Championships, to aim to make it through the rounds.
"Once you are in the final it is anyone’s game. The focus for me will be on each race at a time.
"I am on fantastic momentum right now. It makes you feel very good and I’m feeling confident going out there. I know what I am capable of. Now it is to go out there and produce it on the track."
After working with coach Jerry Kiernan since 2013, Mageean moved to Manchester in November last year to link up with the Team New Balance.
The Portaferry native says she is benefitting hugely from the change in environment.
"I feel like the capabilities are always within me. I had a fantastic base here with Jerry Kiernan and everything was going well. I had a bit of a rocky stage last year, but I think a change is as good as a rest.
"I really think the change has helped me an awful lot.
"I tried my best to be fully professional in Dublin, but it was always me out on my own trying to do it"
"I’m in a professional group over there. I live, breathe and sleep athletics. As soon as I get up in the morning I do a run with my team. It’s fantastic to have that.
"I tried my best to be fully professional in Dublin, but it was always me out on my own trying to do it. It’s so much easier with a team around and I think it has really helped my mentality."
