Longford's Cian McPhillips bows out of European Indoor 800m at semi-final stage

Longford athlete Cian McPhillips lined up for the 800 metres at the European Indoor Championships on Saturday evening following a dramatic heat on Friday in which he fell before being later reinstated into a qualifying position.

Only the first three finishers in each of the two semi-finals would advance to Sunday’s final as the high standard of competition saw a fast pace set from the start.

Cian imposed himself strongly in the race and was well positioned at the halfway point. In the third lap, other athletes began to make their move and Cian was unable to respond to remain in the qualifying spots.

Cian McPhillips reacts to his performance in the Men’s 800m semi-final at the European Indoor Championships #IrishAthletics | #Apeldoorn2025 pic.twitter.com/G1WesMSjUT

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) March 8, 2025

He crossed the finish line in seventh place clocking a time of 1:47.40. There will be some disappointment for Cian on the nature in which he faded towards the end of the race, but this indoor season has seen him return to form with a superb personal best time of 1:45.33 ran recently in Boston.

With that time in Boston, UCD student Cian also achieved the B Standard for the World Indoor Athletics Championships in China later this month. The final confirmation of his inclusion has yet to be announced by Athletics Ireland but will hopefully be ratified. 

Also read: Longford’s Cian McPhillips advances after dramatic 800m at European Indoor Athletics Championships