Ciara Mageean finished fourth in the 1500m final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Tuesday.
The race was won by Kenya's Faith Kipyegon (3:54.87) with Ethiopia's Diribe Welteji second (3:55.69) and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands third (3:56).
Mageean's time of 3:56.61 is a new national record, breaking her own mark set at the Brussels Diamond League meeting last year by 0.02.
22 August 2023; Ciara Mageean of Ireland, second from left, competes in the women's 1500m final during day four of the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
The Down native was among the leaders for the majority of the race. She was fourth at the bell and moved into third on the back straight. However, as they made the final turn she was overtaken by Hassan and though she fought down the home straight, she was unable to overcome the trio ahead.
The run comes four years on from Mageean reaching her first world final when she finished 10th in Doha.
Fourth place for Ciara Mageean in the World 1500m Final. 👏
A National Record for Ciara who ran a superb 3:56.61.☘️
She's embracing the brilliant Faith Kipyegon here who won Gold as expected. #TeamIreland #WorldAthleticsChamps #Budapest2023 pic.twitter.com/cPqftniFi9— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) August 22, 2023
The 31-year-old has been in fine form this year. In mid-July, she broke Sonia O'Sullivan's 29-year-old Irish mile record by 2.68 seconds at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco, a race in which Faith Kipyegon smashed the world record. Mageean's time of 4:14.58 made her the fifth fastest woman ever for the distance.
Mageean said a fortnight prior to Budapest that this is the most excited she's ever been for a World Championships.
"I feel very confident going in knowing the shape that I'm in, knowing what I've done already this season," she said.
"I'm really excited. With that comes the natural nerves because you want to go out and perform as best you can. But for me, it's a really exciting place to be, to toe the line and think 'It's all out there, and it's all mine to go and try to take'.
"I'm looking forward to towing the line because it's probably the most excited I've ever been for a championship."
Rhasidat Adeleke runs in the 400m final on Wednesday evening.
💥NATIONAL RECORD AND 4TH IN THE WORLD FOR CIARA MAGEEAN💥
An outstanding run from one of the stars of Irish sport🙌🤩🇮🇪 Ciara left it all out there and did us proud once again💚 A national record in a global final!!🤯
⏱️3:56.61 NR@Ask123ie #IrishAthletics pic.twitter.com/KvMvPjXfOD— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) August 22, 2023
