'Words can't even come close' - Ciara Mageean wins European 1500m gold medal

Ciara Mageean has won a gold medal in the 1500m final at the European Athletics Championships in Rome.

The Portaferry athlete burst through a gap between the British pair of Jemma Reekie and Georgia Bell coming into the final 100 meters, kicking for home to cross in a winning time of 4:04.66 on Sunday evening.

It's a third European outdoor medal for Mageean after her bronze in Amsterdam in 2016 and the silver won in Munich in 2022.

Speaking after the race, Mageean said: "Words can't even come close" was Mageean's initial reaction when she spoke to RTÉ Sport afterwards. Everybody back home knows how long I have been doing this, how hard I have been trying. I've had so many times when I've come off races and not felt the way I am today. I went out on that track today super nervous, but I had a plan and a mission, that was to hear Amhrán na bhFiann.”

Sarah Healy also went in the race, finishing in a superb seventh place in her first senior European final in a time of 4:06.77 to offer her plenty of confidence heading into the run-in to Paris.

Ireland enjoyed another piece of history earlier in the schedule with both Rhasidat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley securing their places in tomorrow’s 400m final (8.50pm).

Adeleke cruised through to the final in 50.54Q, a time that would see her claim first place in her heat and rank as the fastest time of all qualifiers.

Mawdsley joined her relay teammate in tomorrow's medal decider with a brilliant 50.99 second place finish to claim an automatic qualification place.

Sophie Becker posted the second fastest time of her career to finish in fourth place (51.54) in her respective heat which was just shy of progressing. It did complete the remarkable feat of three Irish athletes finishing within the top 10 at a European Championships.

Chris O'Donnell's individual championship also came to an end at the semi-final stage with the North Sligo AC athlete posting the bravest of runs to finish fourth in 45.72 which was short of qualifying. O’Donnell would later be disqualified as the result of a lane infringement.

Mark Smyth enjoyed a superb day in the men’s 200m, posting two season’s best performances across the morning and evening sessions. Ultimately the Raheny would bow out in the semi-final with a 20.86 SB for 16th in Europe.