Cian McPhillips has won the 1500 metre gold medal at the European U20 Championships in Tallinn.
The Longford man produced a stunning final lap, powering down the home straight in a close fought battle with Rick Van Riel of the Netherlands to take the gold medal in 3:46.55.
McPhillips had gone into the final outside the top three runners on best times this year but when it really mattered the Longford man stepped up and took European U20 gold, the first for Ireland at this grade since Colin Costello in 2005.
It's Ireland day on the track! ??????
Propelled by a 54 second last lap, Cian McPhillips wins the European U20 1500m title in Tallinn! ?#Tallinn2021 pic.twitter.com/C8F53ZSCM9
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 17, 2021
It was a medal laden day for Irealnd as Rhasidat Adeleke won the 200 metres final at the European Under-20 Athletics Championships this afternoon, taking gold in 22.90 seconds.
Nicholas Griggs won Ireland’s third medal of the day and fourth gold medal at the championships winning the Men’s 3,000 metres in 8:17.18 just ahead of Yassin Mohumed of Germany who clocked 8:18.36
