Ciara Mageean is safely through to the World Championship final of the 1,500 metres, the Down runner once again underlining class and experience on a hot Sunday evening in Budapest.
Biding her time and looking confident throughout, Mageean always looked in complete control, with only the top six sure of progressing to the final.
After Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir lead through the first lap in a casual 66.5 seconds, Mageean simply ran her own race and held an inside line, conserving as much in reserve as possible. Sitting eighth at the bell, she then made one decisive move down the backstretch and promptly moved into the top four.
Still running easy around the last bend she nailed third in 4:02.70, with Chepchirchir taking the win in 4:02.14.
Joe Canning: Summer will be over before it starts for losers of Munster showdown – and US clubs are ready to pounce
Dean Rock: Jim McGuinness has Donegal motoring and it’s hard to see Armagh stopping them in Ulster final
Gerry Thornley: Ireland deserve top billing in Lions touring party to Australia
Sonia O’Sullivan: Sometimes you need to go off the beaten track to find that timeless run of your life
It’s a second World Championship final in the 1,500m for the 31-year-old, after finishing 10th in Doha in 2019 (before skipping last year’s championships in Doha). That final showdown in Budapest is set for Tuesday night (8.30 Irish time).
In the second semi-final, Sarah Healy faced Olympic champion and world record holder Faith Kipyegon, among others. Although in contention until the bell, Healy then got detached down the backstretch. The 22 year-old finished eighth, rewarded with a new personal best of 3:59.69, after another fine run and her first sub-four clocking.
Kipyegon took the win in a super-fast 3:55.14.
