National Junior 1500m record for Cian McPhillips
A week after his gold-medal winning exploits in Estonia, Cian McPhillips was back racing putting in a record-breaking performance over the 1500 metres distance. On Sunday morning last, Cian lined up at the AAI Summer Games on the recently opened track at I.T. Carlow seeking to back up the heroics of Tallinn.
The pace was swift from the off with Cian slotted in behind training partner John Fitzsimons who acted as pacemaker. With John stepping off at the start of the final lap, Cian took the lead with only Eoin Everard (Kilkenny City Harriers) for company before pushing on to finish strongly for the win in 3:40.56. Former national 1500m champion Everard crossed the line in 3:43.81. Cian’s time set a new Irish Under-20 record which had previously been held by Ray Flynn for 45 years.
It was yet another awesome performance by 19-year-old Cian and the time is the second fastest run by a European junior athlete this year. Despite missing the early part of the outdoor track season, Cian is really in great form and will hopefully race again on the track in the coming week before turning his attention towards cross country. He will no doubt aim to secure a place on the Irish team for the European Championships that will be held in Dublin this December which will mark his final race as a junior.
As news spread across social media on Sunday, Ray Flynn was quick to pass on his congratulations tweeting: “I’m delighted to see Cian take down my junior record. He’s special”. Incredibly the record remains in Longford with Ray having set the previous standard of 3:42.66 back on 8 May 1976 at Knoxville, Tennessee.
Well done to Cian as once again he shows his undoubted talent blossoming under the guidance of top coach Joe Ryan. It was a real team effort and credit also to Kildare AC runner Fitzsimons, the national senior 800m champion, for providing pacing duties.
Results: With a lack of races on the calendar, club members are travelling far and wide to take in events of different forms. Ciarán Madden was in triathlon action on Sunday morning winning the King of Greystones Sprint in a time of 63:03 leading home a total entry of 268. Well done to Ciarán who also put in a top five finish the previous week at the Kilkenny Tri. Juraj Karcak completed the 60km Ultra distance at the undulating Ballyhoura Trail in sweltering heat in County Limerick on Saturday. Also in Munster, Barry Sheil placed in the top 15 at the Grange Fermoy 4-mile road race on Sunday in a time of 20:57.
