Longford athlete Cian McPhillips wins a silver medal in the 800m at the National Championships

Ardagh native Cian McPhillips finished in second place in the 800 metres final at the 123.ie National Track and Field Senior Championships in Morton Stadium on Sunday evening last. 

He lined up in one of the most anticipated events of the weekend with Donegal’s Mark English contesting the men’s 800m final in Santry. 

Despite being Ireland’s leading two athletes at the distance in recent years, it was the first time since 2021 that both Cian and Mark featured in the same race.

McPhillips was chasing a first outdoor national senior title while 32-year-old English, the Irish record holder, was seeking to claim his tenth  Gold medal in the 800m event.

Appearing in the UCD singlet, McPhillips was well positioned in third place as the race reached the final stages before Finn Valley athlete English increased the speed at the front when entering the home straight.

English stretched his lead in the last 80 metres going on to take the victory in 1:48.76 with McPhillips also closing strongly to cross the line next to secure the silver medal in a time of 1:49.26.

The season continues for 23-year-old Cian next Saturday when he is scheduled to race an 800m in Belgium. 

September’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo will be the main goal for him with his place at the championship achieved following a personal best run of 1:44.19 last month.

This weekend’s national finals saw a number of impressive displays by many leading Irish athletes including Sarah Lavin, Sharlene Mawdsley and Andrew Coscoran.

There was other local interest with two Longford Athletics Club members in action. 17-year-old race walker Robin Óg Murphy gained more good experience at senior competition with an impressive sixth place finish in the 5000m walk. Sprinter Aaron Kelly ran strongly in the heats of both the 100m and 200m but was unable to progress to the next round in either event.