Longford’s Cian McPhillips wins first senior outdoor title at National Athletics Championships
Longford’s Holly Rogers also rounded off an excellent track season when finishing seventh in a high-quality women’s 200m final on Saturday
Longford’s Cian McPhillips was a class apart when winning the Gold medal in the men’s 800 metres at the National Senior Track & Field Championships in Dublin on Sunday evening.
It marked a first ever senior outdoor national title for the 24-year-old.
Cillian Kirwan (Raheny Shamrock AC) had led from the start until UCD athlete McPhillips made the decisive move to the front on the final bend going on to cross the finish line in 1:47.76 for a convincing victory.
The absence of multiple-time national champion Mark English from this year’s event had made the task more straightforward for McPhillips but the manner of the performance was still most impressive.
His focus will now turn to the European Athletics Championships taking place next month in Birmingham when he will take to the start line for the opening round of the men’s 800m on August 10.
There was further local interest at Morton Stadium over the weekend with Longford Athletics Club sprinter Holly Rogers.
She rounded off an excellent track season when finishing seventh in a high-quality women’s 200m final on Saturday having run a new personal best in the heats.