Róisín Flanagan clocks a Donegal record and PB in 3,000m world indoors final

Finn Valley Athletic Club's Róisín Flanagan ran a personal best and a Donegal record in the World Indoor Athletics Championships 3,000m final at Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

Flanagan ran a time of 8:53.02w - better than her previous best 8:53.50 -  was the fifth-fastest ever for an Irish woman, behind Sarah Healy's record of 8:36.06, Mary Cullen, Sonia O’Sullivan and Ciara Mageean.

"It's pretty incredible and I didn't think I would be here,"  Flanagan said. "It's an honour to be here and in that field. I knew these athletes had very fast personal best, so I wanted to run smart. I would've liked to run a little faster, but I was dead at the end of it. When I came out, I was calm, but when I walked out my stomach turned a little. I'm glad I got the experience ahead of the summer. I hope to improve on this and get in some good training before the summer races."

The Gorteen, Co Tyrone, native came home in 15th place in a top-class field, with Elle St. Pierre Elle of the United States becoming the champion in an American record of 8:20.87, 364 days after having her first child. She defeated double-world champion Gudaf Tsegay from Ethiopia and Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech came home third.