UCD physiotherapy student Ciara Everard produced one of her best performances to date when running 2.06.97 for 800m at the invitation Irish Milers Club race held in conjunction with the Irish Schools National finals in Tullamore over the weekend.

In near perfect conditions for middle distance running Ciara Everard tracked World Junior Championship medallist Ciara Mageean from Lisburn until the 600m mark only at this stage did the Lisburn women who has been touted as the next Sonia o Sullivan pull away slightly.

UCD student Everard has been progressing well in the last few weeks with times constantly coming down. 2.10 In Holland 2 weeks ago, 2.07 in Manchester 1 week ago and 2.06 at the weekend. It looks like this will be a break through summer for the UCD scholarship student.

“I am very happy with my progress over the last year; the work I put in over the winter period coupled with the support from UCD is starting to reap rewards. I am confident there is more to come; my focus now is on qualifying for the European U23 championships and the World Student Games later in the summer.”

At the same event UCD mens club captain Richard Owens knocked over a second of his 800m personal best when running 1.56.17

Another talented UCD student was in action over the weekend in the World’s biggest Women’s only event the Dublin Women’s Mini Marathon 10k. Laura Shaughnessy from UCD AC finished 14^th out of 40,000 women in a very respectable time of 38.4

IMC races - Irish Schools Athletics Championships 2011, Saturday June 4th, Tullamore Stadium

Results Ladies 800m: 1^st Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn 2.05.08 SB); 2^nd Ciara Everard (UCD AC 2.06.97 SB); 3^rd Laura Crowe (An Riocht AC 2.07.70)