Ciara Mageean always believed that she could set a new national record in the 1500 metres and described her victory at the Golden League in Brussels as "out of this world", as she broke the 27-year Irish standard, while knocking over three seconds off her personal best.
Sonia O'Sullivan’s 1500m Irish record of 3:58.85 has remained intact since 1995 and it took a remarkable run from the County Down athlete to lower the mark by over two seconds, posting 3:56.63 at the prestigious event.
"I’m absolutely over the moon," said Mageean, speaking on Saturday Sport.
"I knew I could go sub four for sure, which is always a huge achievement, and I knew that I’d have it in me to run a national record.
"So to go 3:56-mid was just breathtaking, it was out of this world. Crossing the line, I didn’t even see the time, I think I asked Laura (Muir) 'what time did I run?’ it was obviously brilliant.
"[The 1995 record is] something that’s been in my sights, and it was so lovely to share that moment with her (Sonia O'Sullivan), I had a good chat with her in the cooldown area afterwards.
"Sonia is a huge idol of mine and a huge inspiration in athletics, so it was kind of a handing over of the baton."
Olympic silver medallist Muir, who finished strongly to take second place, celebrated with Mageean at the end of the race and the Portaferry native said that she was great friends off the track with her racing rival.
"There’s great camaraderie among the athletes, obviously we’re all fierce competitors but I feel really fortunate in the women’s 1500 as there is so many lovely girls, and we all delighted to see each other do well.
"I’m really good friends with Laura, we usually sit with each other for dinner. I’m quite often the only Irish athlete there, so the British athletes are all super friendly, they have taken me in, and it’s nice to have a friendly face.
"It’s a fierce battle on the track, but whenever we step off, we want nothing more than to see each other excel and bring our own sport forward."
Mageean revealed that it was almost the record that never was as she was only on the substitutes’ list ahead of the Belgian meet, despite the best efforts of her agent.
"Truth be told, it was a battle to get into that race," explained Mageean. "On Thursday, I wasn’t on the start list, I was called up fairly late to the race.
"I know that my agent Ricky Simms was working hard to get me on the line and was trying to convince the meet race director saying ‘you have to give her a chance, she’s in good shape’.
"He thought it would have been a definite after winning two major medals over the summer but because they were not super-fast times, I was put on the substitutes’ list, I was still on the bench, I wasn’t making the starting panel.
"So I’m super glad that I got the call up and got that opportunity, as I did a blistering session in the week leading into it and I knew that I was in good shape.
"It’s not often that I say that, and when I finished my last rep of my previous session, I said to my team-mate ‘if I don’t get into a fast 1500, I’m going to cry’.
Next up for Mageean is the final of the Diamond League, which takes place in Zurich on Thursday and the new Irish record holder believes that she can, once again, compete with the best to prove that she belongs on the world stage.
"I know I’m in the shape of my life and I just want to go out and show the world what I can do, so this will certainly open some more doors, but it also gives me more belief.
"Going from a four-minute runner to a 3:56 runner, that’s making me competitive on the world stage and it’s something that I‘ve always known, but it’s one thing having confidence in yourself and it’s another thing having the facts there to back it.
"So not only does it show the world what I can do but it also proves it to myself, so hopefully it will help me take a huge step forward.
"If I go into Zurich feeling the way I felt in Brussels, I’ll be up there, but it’s never easy as these girls are competing at this level week-in week-out, so hopefully I’ll be able to raise my game again and be up there and be competitive.
"I feel very proud to be able to get the tricolour flying at that level again, because there were so many Irish in the crowd who I have to say a big thank you to as I could hear them whenever I walked out.
"Hopefully there will be more occasions like that."
