Ciara Mageean has raced into the record books again recording a new Irish Junior Mile Record at the Armory in New York. She clocked 4.38.41 at the New Balance Games to take Anita Philpott’s previous record of 4.41.76 set in Boston in 1988 and finished in 7th place.
The race was won by highly-rated American Jenny Simpson in 4:28.60 ahead of Carmen Douma-Hussar (4:30.88) and Frances Koons (4:31.53).
Mageean recently secured the most lucrative sponsorship deal in the history of Irish junior athletics with American sportswear giants New Balance in a six-figure deal which will run for three years, with the option of a fourth.
A standout runner, eighteen year-old Mageean hails from Portaferry, Northern Ireland and is one of the most promising young middle distance athletes in the world.
Mageean (18) has turned down an invitation to race at the prestigious Millrose Games in Madison Square Gardens on this day week.
She has decided not to take up the opportunity to race in the famous MSG, preferring to come home to concentrate on next month’s Irish Indoor Championships, with a view to qualifying for the European Indoors in Paris in early March.
"I am hoping to run a full indoor season and, hopefully, to qualify for Paris. So, the national indoors in the Odyssey will play a big part in that," she revealed. "Going to America, however, is certainly something new for me and I’m really looking forward to the challenge."
Ciara will race at the Irish Indoors in the Odyssey Arena in February.
New Balance Games
January 22, 2011 @ The Armory Track & Field Center in New York, NY
Indoor Results: Elite Women’s Mile
Women 1 Mile Run Elite
1 Simpson, Jen New Balance 4:28.60 4:11.0
2 Douma-Hussar, Carmen New Balance 4:30.88 4:12.4
3 Koons, Frances New Balance 4:31.53 4:12.6
4 Stellingwerff, Hilary New Balance 4:31.72 4:13.0
5 Muncan, Marina New Balance 4:31.84 4:13.7
6 Wright, Megan New Balance 4:32.51 4:13.4
7 Mageean, Ciara New Balance 4:38.81 4:17.0
8 Buchanan, Dana Speed River TC 4:41.70 4:21.6
9 Cliff, Rachel Speed River TC 4:45.00 4:24.6
10 Martinez, Branda New Balance 4:45.12 4:25.7
11 Green, Nikeya Reebok 4:53.95 4:31.7
— Higgins, Lesley New York Athleti DNF
