Classy Dutch display by Coscoran

With a performance as classy as it was composed, Andrew Coscoran scored an impressive win over 1500m at the FBK Games in the Dutch city of Hengelo at the weekend, the 26-year-old powering to victory in 3:37.97, a rare win for an Irish athlete at a Continental Tour Gold meeting.

In a race where the pace dawdled through 800m in 1:58, Coscoran coasted towards the front on the penultimate lap. He struck for home on the last turn, but was soon passed by Britain’s Elliot Giles, but the Balbriggan athlete maintained his form admirably in the last 50 metres to edge back in front, winning by three hundredths of a second. Luke McCann came home sixth in 3:38.62.

"When he went by me it was about, just keep moving and hold your rhythm and luckily I passed him and dipped for the line,” said Coscoran. “A lot of that race I was running in lane two but it allowed me to get in a great position. The reason I got the win was good positioning.”

The Star of the Sea athletic, who has produced a series of fine performances at European events over the past year or so, also competed in the World Championships last year. He competes in a number of events including the 800m, the 1500m and the mile.

At last year's World Championships Coscoran secured his place in the men's 1500 metres semi-final after he ran a season’s best time to earn third place in his heat. The previous year Coscoran was placed 10th in the semi-final heat at the Olympic Games.