–Sinéad O’Carroll and Niall Kelly report from Rio de Janeiro
A DISAPPOINTED CIARA MAGEEAN has vowed to return to the athletics scene ‘stronger, faster and better’ in 2017 after failing to qualify for the 1,500m Olympic final.
The Down woman gave herself every chance of progressing from her semi-final but the race got away from her with about 200 metres to go.
“I tried to be up and put myself in contention – which I did. But I just didn’t have it at the end,” she said in an emotional, trackside interview.
I suppose I just didn’t have what I needed and what I wanted in that last 200. But that will come in the future.
As defiant in defeat as she was focused in victory, the 24-year-old vowed that this year – which included a bronze medal at the European Championships – was only the beginning for her.
“A lot of the girls I’m racing out there have three or four seasons of brilliant running and very few setbacks. This is my first year without getting injured and my first year being able to train the whole way through.
“This is ground zero for me and I’m just going to go from there.”
Mageean finished 11th in last night’s semi-final, with only the top five guaranteed to progress to the final.
Her time of 4:08.07 was just two-hundredths of a second outside her season’s best but she knew she’d have to go beat that to line out at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night.
“All I can say is that I’m really disappointed and I’m so grateful for all of the help everyone has given me to be here, to toe the line in an Olympic semi-final.
“To my coach Jerry (Kiernan) back in the studio who I know is going to be really disappointed in this moment in time. [And] all my family from Portaferry, all my friends and everyone throughout Ireland who’s helped me be here.
“I’m just really sorry that I didn’t give them an Irish finalist,” she added, her disappointment compounded by a belief that she can “rub shoulders with the best in the world”.
Following an impressive and comfortable performance in her heat, there were high hopes in the Mageean camp that she could do enough to make Tuesday’s final.
“I felt great after my heat,” she said.
I have no excuses for that performance out there. All I can is that I’m disappointed and very sorry for not doing what I wanted to do, what my coach wanted me to do and what everybody in Ireland wanted tonight.
Bidding to become the first Irishwoman to qualify for the Olympic 1500m final, Mageean ran a positive race from the gun and was at the head of proceedings, settling in second place early on.
After dropping back into the middle of the bunch, she pulled wide and moved back up into fifth position at the bell.
With five to qualify from each semi plus the two fastest losers overall, she made her move early on that final lap but was picked off by a succession of her rivals over the final 200 metres.
The race was won by world silver medallist Faith Kipyegon in a time of 4:03.95 – a pace much faster than Mageean’s season’s or personal best.
She wasn’t offering that as an excuse either.
“I just wanted the pace the race was going to go out,” she said.
“I suppose I’ve had a few slow races and I’ve been able to kick. But I have the strength to go with the fast pace, and I know my PB doesn’t reflect what I’m capable of.
“Hopefully, after this season, I can post a few more fast times, perhaps. And I can show the world that Ciara Mageean deserves to be in Diamond Leagues and can rub shoulders with the best in the world.”
More from The42′s team in Rio:
Refreshing that we didn’t get a “I did my best” response, she’s clearly a winner who accepts nothing less than success. If she can stay injury free that mentality bodes well for her future.
Expectations maybe a little high.Some people comparing with Sonia,which is totally unfair. She was world class winning European,world and Olympic medals.Same as young players going to England trying to be the next Roy Keane. Maybe 1 out of 100 might make it.Sonia and Roy were the exceptions,but with loads of hard work and commitment who knows?
Not that clean, Michelle Smith,Martin Fagan,Cathal Lombard,Michael O Reilly,sprinter guy(forgot his name)!, Cian OConnors horse!There was an amatuer cyclist caught.Even Kelly in his day was banned for a month.
Wouldn’t mind been her training partner
Is she delusional she will never be able to compete with the African athletes. I really hope she isn’t get much taxpayer money for funding it’s an embarrassment watching them and the other losers who commentate on RTE, unbelievable.
Gobsh!te
She might if she was on the same stuff they are on….
Clueless
Jesus Noel, don’t hold back.
She was well able to compete with them as a junior, a few years of injury set her back. And she’s more than justified any funding she gets which I doubt is very much at all by winning a European medal this year. You’re a clown
Everyone is on drugs exempt the Irish athletes it’s great to have such a clean nation.
*Except*
Some coach, back home in the RTE studio. She needs to upgrade on that guy.
I think Noel we’ll all just pack up and go home. At least then we wouldn’t have to put up with the head up the arse comments you are likely to enlighten our live with.