Sarah Healy enjoyed an impressive victory in the 1500m last night at the Folksam Grand Prix in Gothenburg, as she set a personal best of 4:07.78.
The talented young Dubliner took the win as she knocked almost two seconds off her previous best of 4:09.25, building a fine head of steam as she strives towards the Tokyo automatic qualifying time of 4:04.20.
The Monkstown native took control on the back straight as she comfortably left Revee Walcott- Nolan in her wake, with the Great Britain runner finishing second in 4:08.28.
Very impressive 1500m victory for Sarah Healy in Gothenburg. Set a new personal best of 4:07.78. pic.twitter.com/71ELTFC89A
— PJ Browne (@P_J_Browne) June 2, 2021
The UCD Law student has seen her times move steadily in the right direction, having clocked 4:11.98 and 4:09.92 in her two races last month.
Last night's performance moves Healy to seventh place on the Irish all-time list and once the rankings are updated, the run should move her to 43rd in the rankings– nicely within the top 45 rankings that qualify for the 1500m.
A fine performance from Healy and one which will give the 20 year old significant confidence as she hunts down a place at this summer’s Olympics.
Elsewhere in the Irish Athletics scene, there were some prosperous performances by Irish athletes at the World Athletics Continental Tour meeting in Samorin, Slovakia. Limerick athletes Sarah Lavin and Ciara Neville turned on the heat as the Olympic hopefuls enjoyed some top form in their respective races. Hurdler Sarah Lavin ran a new personal best of 13.19 as she finished in fourth place in the women's 100m. The run moves the 27 year old to third fastest on the all-time Irish list.
For Ciara Neville, it was another noteworthy performance for the 21 year old prospect as she finished second in the women's 100m in a time of 11.47; achieving a European U23 Championship qualifying time in doing so. Next up for the Limerick duo in the World Athletics Continental Tour are the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland on Monday and Tuesday next.
