Andrew Coscoran reaches World Athletics Championship 1500m final with superb performance

LAST UPDATE | 8 hrs ago

The 42

IRELAND’S ANDREW Coscoran has qualified for the final of the men’s 1500m final after a brilliant performance in the semi-final.

Coscoran clocked 3:35.65 to take fifth in his semi-final, with the top six securing automatic qualification.

The Balbriggan native stumbled over the line in a bunched finish but a superb surging run down the final stretch sees him safely through to the final. His semi-final was won by Niels Laros of the Netherlands in 3:35.50 followed Great Britain’s Josh Kerr who crossed the line 3:35.53.

“Unreal,” Coscoran told RTÉ’s David Gillick after his performance.

“It was a bit cagey for most of it. I was trying to stay in the top six. I was seventh for a lot of the race and I really wanted to be top six. But there was nowhere I could go so I just tried to cut inside as much as possible.

“I’m absolutely buzzing. I felt I still had a lot to give and I just couldn’t go anywhere, I was boxed in. But that’s semi-finals. I’m really looking forward to the final now.”

Coscoran finished in sixth place in the men’s 3000m final at the World Indoor Championships earlier this year but will now progress to his first outdoor global final.

Meanwhile, Cork’s Nicola Tuthill finished 11th overall in the final of the women’s hammer. Competing in just her first World Athletics championship, the emerging 21-year-old had a best throw of 69.49m.

“11th in the world is crazy but to not be over 70m is a little bit upsetting. But also, it wasn’t there on the day. I’ve been consistent over 70m, I think I’ve done it maybe seven times this year. Having that behind me, knowing I wanted to do that is tough. But I was 11th, I can’t complain at all with that

“I felt really good. I felt like I was ready to throw far so I was really hoping I’d be able to today. It just wasn’t there for some reason. I felt really good. My drills between throws felt good. It just didn’t seem to go.

“There’s been a lot of people supporting to get me here and I’m really grateful for that. It’s been an amazing season, I’ve made a world final at 21 which is pretty cool.” 

Earlier on the track, Sarah Lavin missed out on a place in the final of the women’s 100m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after clocking 12.86 to finish fourth in her semi-final.

Lavin was running from lane two in the first semi-final today where Lotta Halara of Finland was disqualified for a false start.

With the field down to seven after the reset, Lavin finished behind American winner Grace Stark who finished in 12.37 to take the first of two automatic qualification spots. Second went to Ditaji Kambundji in 12.44 and third was Ackera Nugent of Jamaica who ran 12.63.

Lavin was briefly in a position for one of the two next-fastest slots but was eliminated after the second semi-final, finishing 13th overall.

“I gave it as good as I could. I’m really proud of myself, how I’ve managed this season. The first hurdle has let me down so much this season and I’ve let myself down with the first hurdle.

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“We took a gamble after indoors because I knew that’s where I’m handing so much over. I’ve definitely improved my flight times over the hurdles but I’m just not utilising my speed in between. 

“I know on my best, I’m a 12.6 runner. I did give myself as best a shot as I could but what’s frustrating is [that] normally, I’m so consistent and this season has been anything but for so many reasons. They’re not excuses but you have to play the cards you’re dealt as best you can at all times.

“I wanted to go down with a fight. I just have to go back, work harder and I feel like I’m saying that over and over again. It’s raw at the moment but focusing on the fact that 13th in the world is not bad. The world’s a pretty big place.”

Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu produced a savage burst at the line to snatch world marathon gold from Germany’s Amanal Petros in Tokyo on Monday.

Simbu and Eritrea-born Petros were both clocked at 2:09:48 in the most dramatic of endings for the longest event of the world championships in the Japanese capital, the Tanzanian adjudged to have finished three-hundredths ahead.

Italy’s Iliass Aouani claimed bronze in 2:09:53, while Peter Lynch of Kilkenny City Harriers finished 24th in 2:14:12.

However, there was disappointment for Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC, who failed to finish and pulled out with an injury.

Lynch said: “It was good, it was tough but that’s how we knew it was going to be. Today was all about running my own race and getting the best out of myself and beating as many bodies as possible.”

He made good headway after the 20k mark and began to pass out a lot of his fellow competitors.

“That was part of the plan,” he told Athletics Ireland.

“I had a time in mind, around 2:14, with the way the temperature was and the women’s race yesterday… I wasn’t worried if I was back pretty far at the start, just glad I wasn’t blowing up left, right and centre so glad I held myself together.”

Paying tribute to his coach, Olympian Alistair Cragg, he added, “Yeah, it’s been class, like. Joining this group a year ago, I decided this was my chance to go all in and I am glad, it’s been going well.”

Holding the Irish marathon record, set in Düsseldorf last April at a time of 2:09:36, Lynch said of his next targets, “I have it for now but I don’t think it’s going to be around for too long. Distance running in Ireland is going very well at the moment.

“Fearghal (Curtin) broke the half-marathon record and I know he and Hiko are doing Dublin in a couple of weeks, so I don’t expect the record to be around for long but I think that is great.”

– Additional reporting © AFP 2025 and Sinéad Farrell

Written by Declan Bogue and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.