Louise Shanahan produced the fastest 800M in her lifetime so far to set a new Irish Senior record at the Irish Milers Club meet in Belfast on Saturday.
The Cork runner who is currently studying for a PhD quantum physics at Cambridge University, ran 1:59.42 to move top of the Irish All-Time list.
Shanahan was racing against Ciara Mageean who held the Irish record at 1:59.69. The two middle-distance runners are now the only two Irishwomen in history to have broken two minutes for 800m.
It marks a significant improvement on Shanahan’s PB with her previous best clocking 2:01.44 last year also in Belfast.
The race itself was extremely close and tactical up until the final 50 metres with Shanahan strategically placing herself behind Ciara Mageean before a late kick in the final stretch to move passed and claim first place and the Irish record.
It was a great race from Mageean as well, who returned from her first race back after the injury hit indoor season. The Portaferry runner ran her second fastest all time 800M ever, clocking 1:59.82.
Shanahan’s time qualifies her for both the World Championships in Eugene in July and the Europeans in Munich in August.
https://youtu.be/QzJKsYXPTcU
Also in Belfast, Olympic mixed relay finalist Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrocks) continued her early season form with a 52.24 PB over 400 to move into the top five on the Irish all-time list.
What just happened?? 🤯🤯🤯 https://t.co/yOcOY9zXCw
— Louise (@LouiseShanahan) May 14, 2022