Jemma fifth in Women’s 1500m final in Rome after bold medal bid

Sunday 9th June 2024

Jemma in action in the heat (Getty Images for European Athletics)

Jemma Reekie had to settle for fifth place in the Women’s 1500m final at the European Championships.

The Scot made a strong medal bid and was still very much in contetion into the home straight.

But Ireland’s Ciara Mageean pushed ahead for the gold with GB and NI’s Georgia Bell taking the silver with bronze for the fast finishing French athlete, Agathe Guillemot.

Mageaan, who had squeezed through a gap between the Scot and the Englishwoman, duly won in 4:04.66 with Jemma at 4:06.17.

‘I truly believed I could win the race here and if I fell short in that then still win a medal,’ said Jemma, in a special interview with Stuart Weir for Scottish Athletics in Rome.

‘I think we did a lot of things right and maybe a few things wrong. I will have to chat it through with my coach (Jon Bigg).

‘I was getting clipped all the way round but that’s 1500m running for you.’

There were 13 athletes in the final and the Irish and British athletes always looked the serious medal contenders.

Jemma had won through to the final with a victory in the opening heat on Friday morning.

Despite high temperatures in the Italian capital, the Scot headed the field as she won a second race in a few days after that 800m triumph in the Diamond League in Sweden the previous Sunday.

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Tags: European Champs, Jemma Reekie, Rome