Ireland’s Ciara Mageean and Sarah Healy went head to head last night in the 1500m event at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava, Czech Republic, with the duo placing first and second on the podium respectively.
Mageean was the one to ultimately clinch the gold medal status, with a phenomenal final lap from the Portaferry woman seeing her eclipse the field from seventh to first place and win with a time of 4:01.98.
Healy was close behind her, and was even leading with 150m to go, but eventually clocked a 4:02.12, with Britain's Revee Walcott-Nolan claiming third place with a time of 4:02.42.
“I want to hear Amhrán na bhFiann ring around the stadium. I want to be standing on the top of the podium, Sarah can win silver.” 🇮🇪🤣
Ciara Mageean and Sarah Healy in fine form last night after an Irish one-two in the 1500m in Ostrava 🎤
#IrishAthletics 123.ie
Posted by Athletics Ireland on Wednesday, May 29, 2024
How did Ciara Mageean and Sarah Healy reflect on the race?
On the face off, the pair were in fantastic spirits and reflected on the crazy last lap that was with Athletics Ireland.
“I didn't know it was this windy did you?” Mageean opens, turning to Healy.
“I was far back and small as well so I probably wouldn’t have felt it behind everyone,” Healy chimed back.
“For me the race was a mixed bag. I was out the back early doors and my legs felt heavy but I managed to rally come the end,” Mageean describes.
“Me and Sarah challenging down the home straight, it’s nice to have an Irish one and 2,” she continues.
Healy also detailed how she was “a bit further back” than she would have liked.
“I didn't want to get caught up in the first lap but then all of a sudden I was just way further back the field than I would have liked,” she says.
“I think heading into the last lap you think you’re tired or your legs are feeling a bit heavy but then you just realise you have something left. I got a bit of momentum and then I felt someone coming behind me and I was like, ‘oh my god, it’s Ciara, of course’, but I’m thoroughly happy to come second today,” she adds.
The interviewer then puts it to Healy that she “had to know she was coming”, to which Mageean comedically replied - “No, she passed me early days and thought, that girl is dead!”
“To be fair I did think Ciara was kind of gone but also not surprised at all when she came by in the last 100m,” Healy dissected earnestly.
“I was looking for a confidence boost here today and like just to compete well. I neat a lot of those girls in the field and then obviously didn't get to beat Ciara but like she’s the class of the field today so I’m happy,” she adds.
The pair then looked ahead to their next major outing, the European Championships in Rome come June.
As Mageean says, herself and Sarah “are a good testament to where Irish athletics is right now”, and so for that event and beyond, there is plenty to be excited about.
“We’ve got a fantastic women’s 1,500m field and a brilliant men's 15, our 400m girls are absolutely flying so I'm really excited for my own race in Rome, but personally speaking I’m also super excited to see how the Irish are doing out there,” Mageean says.
“Same for me, also just still trying to learn at the senior championship level,” Healy adds.
“It’s a good vibe in the Irish team at the moment, everyone is running well, and today was big for me confidence wise so yeah I’m happy,” she says.
And finally, what are there aspirations for Rome?
“I want to hear Amhrán na bhFiann ring around the stadium. I want to be standing on the top of the podium, Sarah can win silver,” Mageean laughs.
Healy followed suit on a similar light hearted note, pointing towards a refreshing Aperol spritz after her race, in which she hopes to “run well.”
“I just want to run well, and yeah that’s it,” she says.
