Ciara Mageean, daughter of the living legend of Portaferry and Down hurling, Chris 'white hunter' Mageean pickes up a gold medal yesterday in Finland as well as a silver in the world youth games last month.
From RTE.ie
Mageean claims gold with record run
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 23:16
Ciara Mageean of City of Lisburn AC produced an exceptional record-breaking performance to win gold in the 1500m in 4.15.46 at the European Youth Olympics in Finland.
This time is a new Irish Youth record and a new Irish Junior record and a new Championships Best Performance. This record was previously held by Romania's Gabriela Szabo.
One of Magaeen's heroes, Sonia O'Sullivan - who is part of the management team, was track-side to cheer her to victory and to see the record of one of her greatest rivals tumble.
In the typical bold running style of Magaeen, she took the race out from the start with Britain's Lauren Proctor. With a lap to go the 17-year-old made a break and was a clear winner by 30 metres, with Doaga of Romania coming second in 4.18.44.
Speaking of the victory Magaeen said: 'I went out there to try my best, I gave it everything, I am really tired now but I am delighted to have won the race.'
Team Manager John McGrath said: 'We are thrilled with Ciara's performance; the rest of the team on the track today also had a remarkable day.'
Elsewhere, Christine McMahon of Ballymena and Antrim AC set a new Irish Youth record of 59.78 in the 400m hurdles and is the second fastest qualifier going into the final.
Killian Barry of Crusaders AC has also made it into the final of the hammer with a throw of 65.27 metres. Lorcan O'Cathian of Roscommon AC won his heat in 22.12 and qualifies for the semi-final.
Meanwhile, Paul Scanlan of Leevale AC finished seventh in the 400m final in 49.70.
Finally, Adam Ingram of Lagan Valley AC set a personal best of 1.53.08 in the semi-finals of the 800m. Ingram was unlucky not to make it into the finals as he would have won the other semi-final.
I heard that lassie on the radio over the weekend and she came across as very down to earth and a nice kid. More power to her. Lets hope shew can go from strength to strength - obviously very talented.
Well done to her was wondering if she was connected to the hunter. He was a bit of a legend on and off the field from what I heard about him,lol.
saw her interviewed on the telly, fair play to her..
Congrats to Ciara. Heard her on the radio a couple of weeks back, very down to earth and keen to mention her home town and her camogie background. Fair play to her.
JC, I'm surprised at you giving "The Hunter" credit, he skelped youse boys plenty of times on his own! ;D
That woman of yours must have turned you blue and yellow! ;)
Her Dad played for Down hurlers in '93.
Seeing as shes a great runner she must have the mothers gene's ;)
Fair play to her.
Seems to be a good bit of this recently with the likes of Tomás O'Leary and Shane Lowry carrying their family's flag onto big things. Long may it continue.
Quote from: nearlymad on July 24, 2009, 12:09:17 AM
I think Orior this was established in the first line of the first post
Emm, yes, I meant to say that he hit the winning point against all-Ireland champs Kilkenny in Nowlan Park in 93.
Quote from: theskull1 on July 24, 2009, 01:24:31 AM
Seeing as shes a great runner she must have the mothers gene's ;)
Her mother is a sister of big Paud and Bessie Mason who would not be renouned for their athletic prowess unless eating baked potatoes and bolognese sauce out of spuds on a thursday night after a session in the students union has suddenly become an olympic sport.
Her auntie Edele Mason played a bit of camogie for you Dunlodians not that long ago.
Legend has it that Ciara was running in a cross country schools race in Castlewellan or the likes and she wasn't going that well, sixth or seventh, until the hunter took off up the outside of the course and give her a rollicking as she was running. The exact wording was alleged to be 'get your feckin finger out Ciara or you're going to get beat'. Hunter doesn't do whispering either. She took off and ended up winning. Who needs sport physcologists when you've a da like the hunter, absolute nutter but very likeable with it even if we've battered the bejasus out of each other the odd time.
Ciara Mageean picked up the silver in the World junior 1500 metres in Canada a few weeks ago.
The commentators struggle a bit with the name.
http://www.universalsports.com/video/assetid=9db7ae6f-f950-47de-abf6-32c518ecd0a3.html (http://www.universalsports.com/video/assetid=9db7ae6f-f950-47de-abf6-32c518ecd0a3.html)
Quote from: johnneycool on July 24, 2009, 11:31:49 AM
Quote from: theskull1 on July 24, 2009, 01:24:31 AM
Seeing as shes a great runner she must have the mothers gene's ;)
Her mother is a sister of big Paud and Bessie Mason who would not be renouned for their athletic prowess unless eating baked potatoes and bolognese sauce out of spuds on a thursday night after a session in the students union has suddenly become an olympic sport.
spuds r us ;D. I would have been a contender at this sport ( in my fresher year) .
Quote from: johnneycool on July 24, 2009, 11:31:49 AM
Quote from: theskull1 on July 24, 2009, 01:24:31 AM
Seeing as shes a great runner she must have the mothers gene's ;)
Her auntie Edele Mason played a bit of camogie for you Dunlodians not that long ago.
Auntie Edel was a fantastic camogie player in her time for Down and Portaferry before heading to Dunloy.