Ireland’s Ciara Mageean finished third in the women’s NYRR Wanamaker Mile at the NYRR Millrose Games on Saturday (February 3).
European 1500m bronze medalist Mageean returned to familiar surrounding in New York to open her season with a third-place finish in the prestigious Wanamaker Mile.
The 25-year-old, who clocked an indoor PB of 4:28.40 at the same event in 2016, was in the middle of the field for most of the race before making a move in the closing stages, and at one point was second behind USA’s Collen Quigley.
However, Mageean could not quite chase down Quigley and was overtaken by Kate Grace with a fast finish to take second. Mageean crossed the line in 4:30.99 at the Armory.
Quigley took the win in 4:30.05, with Nike Bowerman Track Club teammate Grace second in 4:30.08.
It was the Irish athlete’s first major race since changing her training environment in late November 2017 to move to England and join Team New Balance Manchester under the guidance of coach Steve Vernon.
Mageean, who will compete for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games set her outdoor mile PB of 4:22.40 last year at the Anniversary Games in London.
Meanwhile, Irish miler Sean Tobin clocked an indoor personal best 3:58.28 to finish fourth in the men’s invitational mile. The University of Missippi athlete’s time is a new collegiate best for the mile and also breaks his own school record.
The race was won by USA’s Eric Avila in 3:57.45.
Earlier in the day, West Waterford AC’s Kate Veale finished second in the women’s mile racewalk USATF Championship.
Young athletes Mia Clancy finished sixth with 9.09 in the NYRR Fastest Kid in the World Girls’ 55m, while Tieman Cookie finished seventh with 9.03 in the Boy’s event.
A round-up of Irish action elsewhere on Saturday, including Kate O’Connor improving her own Irish record and Phil Healy impressing again over 400m, can be found here.