Teenager Phoebe Gill Shatters European U18 800m Record with 1:57.86 at Belfast Meeting

Recently turned 17, England's Phoebe Gill set a new European U18 record for the 800m at the Belfast Irish Milers Meeting, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger series. On a brisk Saturday afternoon, Gill crossed the finish line in a staggering 1:57.86, becoming the second fastest globally in her age group and eclipsing the previous record of 1:59.65 held since 1979 by East Germany's Marion Geissler-Huber.

Renowned for her assertive racing approach, Gill charged through the first 400 meters in under 57 seconds, laying the groundwork for a swift finish. On her own during the second lap, she widened her lead, culminating in an extraordinary victory that crushed her personal best by nearly four seconds and secured her spots at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Gill, still eligible for the 2024 European Athletics U18 Championships in Banska Bystrica from July 18-21, is anticipated to be a standout performer, potentially mirroring her hero, Keely Hodgkinson, who captured the 800m title in 2018.

Her remarkable time placed her well ahead of Scottish runner Erin Wallace, who finished in 2:00.23, and Danish competitor Annemarie Nissen, who was close behind at 2:00.26.

Reflecting on her performance, Gill confessed to the surprise of her success, having nearly missed the race due to a mix-up in timings. Despite this, she exceeded her target for the first lap, initially planned at 58 seconds. "I just kept pushing and in the end, I didn't even realize I had done it. I thought I was dreaming," Gill remarked.

Her record now ranks second only to Keely Hodgkinson among British under-20 athletes, who holds the national junior record with a time of 1:55.88, setting a high bar for future prospects like Gill.

Results - Belfast Irish Milers Meet In Association with Tripadvisor 2024