WATCH | European gold medal winner Cian McPhillips crowned Longford Leader Sports Star of the Year

European U20 1500 metres gold medal winner Cian McPhillips was crowned as the overall 2022 Longford Leader Sports Star of the Year, in association with Longford Sports Partnership, at a gala awards ceremony in the Longford Arms Hotel.

The UCD student, who is in the midst of a hectic training schedule ahead of the upcoming indoor track season as he aims to qualify for Championship events in 2023 such as March’s European Senior Indoors in Turkey, was presented with the Overall Award by Longford Leader Managing Editor Alan Walsh.

Holder of the Irish Under-20 record for the 1500m in a time of 3:40.56, Cian took more than two seconds off the previous record held by Ray Flynn for 45 years and he explained to MC Tony Ghee how Longford Athletics Club actually has the top three fastest U-20 runners in Irish 1,500 metres history. 

Cian added, "And hopefully with the new indoor athletics centre and all the volunteers Longford athletics club has, there'll be more record breakers coming up the line."

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Having excelled in the juvenile age categories, Cian McPhillips, Longford AC & UCD AC, continued to prosper when in the junior ranks as he ran a 3:44 indoor 1500 metres in January 2020.

This secured an invite to compete in the Boys Invitational Mile at New York’s Millrose Games when Cian, lining up against some of America’s top High School milers, showed his class with a commanding win.

In February 2021, Cian set a new Irish Under-20 800m record of 1:46.13 to secure a qualifying time for the European Senior Indoor Championships in Poland.

Showing a shrewd racing brain and a blistering burst of acceleration; he advanced from his heat despite being the youngest athlete in the event.

He was unable to progress beyond the semi-final but, with many in Longford and the nation’s athletics fans watching on the live RTE coverage, Cian greatly impressed with his maturity and poise.

In July 2021, Cian truly announced himself on the international stage when winning gold in the 1500 metres at the European Under-20 Championships in Estonia.

Sitting in second place of the 5-man lead group with 400m to go, Cian then made his move on the back straight before edging clear going around the final bend and then finishing strongly to take the win.

The following week, he set an Irish Under-20 record for the 1500m in running 3:40.56 to take more than two seconds off the previous record held by Ray Flynn for 45 years.

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Cian, now a second year student at UCD where he is on scholarship, is preparing ahead of the upcoming indoor track season as he aims to qualify for Championship events in 2023 such as March’s European Senior Indoors in Turkey.