Sarah Healy continued a fine 2018 with another special performance on Saturday evening.
At a track meeting in Tubingen, Germany, the 17-year-old ran 4:09.25 for the 1500m - the second fastest ever time by a European under-18. It places her just behind Romania's Ana Padurean who ran 4:06.02 in 1986.
With the run, Healy also smashed her own Irish U20 record - set just last month - by 4.07 seconds. It is the tenth fastest Irish 1500m time ever.
Sarah Healy of @irishathletics clocked 4:09.25 over 1500m in Tubingen tonight. Puts her second on the European U18 all-time list.
— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) June 16, 2018
The mark is also easily inside the qualifying standard for the European Athletics Championships in Berlin later this summer. 4:12.00 was the time required.
In the race, Healy finished seven places behind compatriot Ciara Mageean who ran 4:06.70.
Sensational 4:09.25 over 1500m for Sarah Healy - smashing the Irish youth record and a European senior qualifier at 17. Mageean 4th in 4:06.70 https://t.co/AyYDLitd0Z
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) June 16, 2018
Healy, who just turned 17 in February, is now firmly established as one of Irish athletics' most exciting prospects.
Earlier this year, she won her first senior title - the 3000m at the National Indoor Championships in Abbottstown. Last summer, she won gold for Ireland at the European Youth Olympics.
Just finished fifth year at Holy Child Killiney, Sarah still plays hockey and until recently was also playing with Cuala GAA club.
Her coach Eoghan Marnell told Balls earlier this year that numerous US colleges have been in touch regarding the possibility of an athletic scholarship. However, at that time, her preference was to remain in Ireland.
Picture credit: Sportsfile
