Athletics: New European champ Mageean targets Paris glory

New European 1500-metre champion Ciara Mageean is looking forward to this Summer's Olympic Games in Paris after her gold-medal winning performance in Rome last night.

The Portaferry women produced a superb kick down the final stretch of the race to power her way to glory in 4.04.66. That meant Mageean bettered the silver she won two years ago in Munich and the bronze from Amtserdam in 2016

"I'm excited about what's to come. I said to my boyfriend earlier today that I'm looking forward to going training. This is just a start to the year,'' Mageean told RTE.

"Words can't even come close to describing how I feel. Everyone back home knows how long I've been doing this and how hard I've been trying."

With a slow pace set by 800m specialist Jemma Reekie of Great Britain, Mageean hovered around the top four for the majority of the race.

However, when the bell went for the final lap, Mageean, Reekie and her GB team-mate Georgia Bell split from the rest of the pack. Mageean was still boxed in though, until she eased her way through the two in front of her to streak home and take top spot.

"I knew I had it in my legs. I was feeling good, it often opens up and I was telling myself not to panic,."

"I was boxed in and had nowhere to go but I didn't grow up playing camogie to get boxed in," Mageean smiled.

"A gap had to come and I saw a little bit of light and took it. I grew up being strong and showing my presence and I did it out there on the track."