Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn A.C.) produced the performance of her life over 800m to break Louise Shanahan’s national record at the British Milers Club meet in Manchester this evening (May 27th).
The Portaferry native crossed the line in 1.59.27 to knock 0.15s off the record Leevale A.C.’s Shanahan had set in Belfast in May 2022.
Mageean had previously set the record in 2020 before Shanahan broke it.
Mageean finished second this evening in a highly competitive race behind Australia’s Abbey Caldwell who took victory in 1.58.92.
The result marks the first time two female athletes have broken two minutes for 800m at a British Milers Club meet.
Mageean now holds the national records over 800m and 1500m, having ran 3.56.63 over the metric mile last September, eradicating Sonia O’Sullivan’s record that had lasted for 27 years.
The 31-year-old won European and Commonwealth silver medals this year and will be hoping for many big performances as the summer progresses as she builds towards the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August.