Sarah Healy has set a new Irish 3,000m indoor record of 8:36.06 after finishing second at the World Indoor Tour Meet in Metz, France.
The Dubliner crossed behind Hirut Meshesha of Ethiopia who set a world leading time of 8:28:46 to take the win.
Healy's performance bettered Mary Cullen's 2009 national record (8:43.74) by more than seven seconds.
The time also moves Healy up to second on the overall Irish all-time 3,000m list behind Sonia O’Sullivan’s 30-year-old mark of 8:21:64.
Today’s result secured Healy's qualification for the upcoming World Indoor Championships in Glasgow (1-3 March), where she will also compete in the 1500m.
Also in Metz, Darragh McElhinney clocked a 7:39.92 personal best to go second on the all-time 3,000m indoor list.
The Bantry athlete, who finished second in today's race, moves into second on the Irish all-time list ahead of the legendary Frank O'Mara and just over a second and half behind Alistair Cragg’s record, which has has stood since 2004.
Nick Griggs finished the same race in sixth place in 7:45.57, ironically claiming McElhinney's U23 3,000m record with a personal best of his own.
All eyes will be on the 3,000m once again tomorrow evening with Ireland's Brian Fay and Andrew Coscoran set to take on the distance in Boston.
