Rio dream over for golden girls

Rio dream over for golden girls

17 August 2016

THERE was no fairytale ending at the Rio Olympics for Portaferry’s Ciara Mageean and Newcastle’s Kerry O’Flaherty.

Ciara’s brave bid to reach the Olympic 1500m final ended in disappointment after she finished in 11th position in her semi-final on Saturday night.

Kerry achieved a season’s best in the heats of the 3000m steeplechase, but failed to progress.

The stars of County Down did remarkably well to get so far, but the sheer intensity of competing against the best athletes in the world took its toll.

Ciara knocked more than three seconds off her time in the previous round, but 4:08.07 was only good enough for 11th place in a semi-final won by Kenya’s Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon.

The Portaferry woman began the race in an assertive manner, positioning herself in second place in the opening lap before settling back into the pack in the second.

She appeared well placed and was staying out of trouble in the close-knit bunch and as the 12 athletes heard the ring of the bell, and was in a favourable position with the top five finishers qualifying for the final.

However, as they moved into the final 200 metres, the 24-year-old struggled with the pace and drifted back the field to cross the line in 11th.

“I am sorry I didn’t deliver,” Ciara said afterwards on her Facebook page.

“I will make one promise. This is the beginning, this season is only the start. I will be back and I will be stronger.”

She added: My dream is to be on a podium, watch the Tricolour rise and Amhrán na bhFiann echo through the stadium. I will work tirelessly until I achieve this, that is my promise.

“I cannot say how thankful I am for all the support I have been given this summer. Messages from the length and breadth of Ireland and further afield has lifted me this entire season.

“Seeing flags and posters in Portaferry and all the kind messages from everyone. Thank you so much truly from the bottom of my heart.

All I can say is that I am really disappointed. I’m just really sorry that I didn’t give them an Irish finalist. I wanted to be up and put myself in contention, which I did, I just didn’t have it at the end.

“I just didn’t have what I needed and wanted in that last 200m, but that will come in the future she added.

Ciara impressed in coming second in her opening heat in a time of 4:11.51, but even going three seconds quicker in the semi-final was not enough to progress. Only the top five in the race were guaranteed a spot in the Olympic final with Ciara 17th fastest overall from the two semi-finals.

Kerry, making her Olympic debut at the age of 35, clocked 9:45.35 as she finished almost 33 seconds behind heat winner Ruth Jebet of Bahrain.

The Newcastle AC athlete was unable to stay with the fast early pace as the field was quickly strung out.

Afterwards, Kerry was still able to reflect on a day of athletics history as Ireland had a full quota of three athletes in the Olympic steeplechase for the first time.

“It was a season’s best and it’s been great on this journey with the girls and creating history with the three of us at the Olympics,” the Newcastle star said.