Louise Shanahan set a new Irish 800m record at the Belfast Irish Milers meeting on Saturday.
The 25-year-old from Cork ran 1:59:42 at the Mary Peters track. Shanahan broke the previous record of 1:59.69 which was set last July by Ciara Mageean.
Down the home straight on Saturday, Shanahan twice got the better of Mageean, first as she won a gripping battle between the two to the line, and then as she snagged the Irish record.
💥LOUISE SHANAHAN STORMS TO NEW IRISH 800M RECORD💥@LouiseShanahan (Leevale AC) has produced the run of her life to secure a new Irish 800m record of 1:59:42 at the Irish Milers Club meeting in Belfast today (May 14th)🤩https://t.co/vWW6umYWSw#IrishAthletics pic.twitter.com/uyfKPU9mhP
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) May 14, 2022
After the first lap, it appeared that a sub-two minute run was off the cards. However, Shanahan and Mageean pushed each other all the way. Mageean - who has only just return from an injury which ended her indoor season - finished in 1:59.86.
Shanahan took just over two seconds off her personal best to become just the second ever Irish woman to run under two minutes for 800m.
Louise Shanahan breaks Irish 800m record
Featured image: 26 June 2021; Louise Shanahan of Leevale AC, Cork, 13, celebrates winning the Women's 800m during day two of the Irish Life Health National Senior Championships at Morton Stadium in Santry, Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
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