SEVENTEEN year old English runner Phoebe Gill stole the show with her 1:57.86 win in the women’s 800m in the Irish Milers event at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast.
A European U18 record, joint second place in the 2024 senior rankings and easily under the Olympic qualification standard, it was incredible, especially given how easy the St Alban’s based woman made it all seem in the punishing heat.
“I’m in shock because I was late for the race because I got the timings mixed up,” said a stunned Gill, who won the Commonwealth Youth Games 800m title last year.
“Then I got out there a bit faster than the 58 seconds I was supposed to run on the first lap.
“I just kept pushing and in the end I didn’t even clock that I’d done it. I thought I was dreaming.”
Another highlight was a personal best by Sophie Becker in the 400m. She ran 51.13, inching ever closer to the Olympic qualification standard. The Dubliner was just back from the Bahamas where she had been competing in the World Relay Championships for Ireland. In the same race, North Down AC’s Rachel McCann finished 4th in a time of 54.98.
In the women’s 1500m, the first local woman was Rebecca Rossiter, following up her excellent 3000m last week in Dublin (see Local Women Sport report) with a personal best in the shorter event. She ran 4:27.12 for 4th position.
In the 3000m, Annadale Striders’ Hannah Gilliland had an excellent run with a strong finish to take 4th position in a time of 9:40. In 10th was Roise Roberts running 9:46.89. Behind her in 11th was Anna Gardiner (9:52.16).
Pictures: Keith McClure
Celebrations after Phoebe set new record
