Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) has broken the long-standing national 1500m record in Birmingham this afternoon.
Coscoran was in action at the final of the World Indoor Tour this afternoon in the Utilita Arena.
The 26-year-old finished third in a time of 3.33.49 to knock nearly two seconds of Marcus O’Sullivan’s indoor national record set back in 1988.
The time is also faster than Ray Flynn’s national outdoor record of 3.33.50 which was ran in 1982.
The race was won by Neil Gourley in a new British record of 3.32.48, with Adel Mechaal of Spain finishing second in a new national record of 3.33.28.
Two other Irish athletes also starred in the race running blistering times.
Luke McCann (UCD AC) finished fourth, knocking nearly four seconds off his previous best, clocking 3.34.76. The superb time from the Irish 1000m record holder moves him behind Coscoran to second on the Irish Indoor All-Time list.
18-year-old Nick Griggs (Mid Ulster AC) who finished second over 3000m at the National Senior Indoor Championships last weekend also moved into the record books once again.
HUGE result for @irishathletics at #WorldIndoorTour in Birmingham!@AndrewCoscoran with a 3.33.49 NR over 1500m followed closely by @lukemccann98 with 3.34.76 (also inside the old NR) and a great 3.39.94 PB for 18 year old @nickgriggs4321 for a near 4 second PB pic.twitter.com/PAVvDiloTI
— Seamus Carey (@SeamusCarey) February 25, 2023
The Tyrone man broke 3.40 for the first time to run a new national U20 record, crossing the line in seventh in 3.39.94.
Andrew Coscoran and Luke McCann look to Euro Indoors
The performances from both Coscoran and McCann will give them a massive boost of confidence heading into next week’s European Indoor Athletics Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.
Coscoran will now go into the championships with the fourth fastest time in Europe this season, while McCann ranks seventh.
WHAT A RUN! @AndrewCoscoran smashes the 1500m national record in Birmingham with 3.33.49 to finish third. @lukemccann98 behind him in fourth clocks 3.34.76 to go second on the all-time list. @nickgriggs4321 breaks his national U20 record also – 3.39.40@irishathletics pic.twitter.com/LgtTf2nlHS
— Rory Cassidy (@rorycassidy01) February 25, 2023
Jacob Ingebrigsten of Norway will be the firm favourite to retain the title he won in Torun in 2021 but having finished seventh two years ago Coscoran will be hopeful of a higher placing, while McCann will believe he can now make the final.
Jack Raftery (Donore Harriers) was also in action at the prestigious meet over 400m. Last weekend’s national champion finished strongly to finish third in 46.66s, the second fastest indoor time of his life.
