Paris & Hengelo Round Up: Personal Best for Sarah Healy in Paris as she moved to number 2 on the all-time list

by Perri Williams

The Diamond League in Paris produced some stunning performances across multiple events – none more so than the ladies 1500m. Favourite for the Olympic gold Faith Kipyegon was in full command of the race from the start and stunned even herself to smash her own world record to record 3.49.04, the only lady ever to have dipped under 3.50. Behind Kipyegon, a host of area, and national records were set, with the first eight athletes setting new personal bests.

Ireland’s Sarah Healy ran a tactically astute race to finish 7^th in a new personal best of 3.57.46, knocking two seconds of her previous personal best that she set last year. Today’s race and time augers well for Healy’s chances of making an Olympic final. The Ethopians may have been missing but there was nothing pedestrian about Jessica Hull’s 3.50.83 that could not have challenged their dominance. She set not only a new Australian national record – but also an Oceanic record, moving her to number three on the seasons list. Laura Muir’s third place and new UK record moved her to number six on this season’s 1500m list.

Things did not go according to plan for European gold medalist Ciara Mageean. Having missed the national championships last week, citing a need for longer recover after Rome, Mageean was testing the waters today. Her time of 3.58.69 while it was a season’s best, was only good enough for 10^th place and some three seconds off the personal best of 3.55 she set in 2023. A lot can change between now and the Olympics and we will watch with interest how the ladies 1500m unfolds.

In Henglo (Netherlands) two Irish athletes were in action; Andrew Coscoran in the 1,000m and Sharlene Mawdsley in the 400m. Dutch heroine Femke Bol was the star attraction in the 400m, where true to form she coasted clear to take victory in 50.02 despite the inclemental weather conditions. Sharlene Mawdsley started in lane six, just inside of Bol. Coming off the first bend Mawdsley was in third position and working hard. Down the back straight she held her own but a fast-finishing Susanne Gogli-Waalli (Austria) eclipsed the Irish superstar to relegate her to fourth in a time of 51.39, her fourth fastest time ever.

Earlier in the afternoon Andrew Coscoran competed in the 1,000m, an event that is not often run. The event was won by Dutch u20 athlete Niels Laros in a rapid time of 2.14.37. Coscoran finished 11^th in 2.23 being caught by Ethan Hussey (GB) in the final stages.