parkrun – UK National Record Tumbles by 18 seconds
In an impressive turn of events today at Belfast Victoria, Ciara Mageean made headlines by smashing the 5K parkrun record, previously held by Melissa Courtney.
The Previous Record Holder:
Before Mageean’s outstanding performance, Melissa Courtney held the 5K parkrun record at Poole with a time of 15:31. Courtney’s record had remained untouched for almost exactly one year to the day, making Mageean’s feat even more noteworthy. Better still, Mageean’s feat knocked a whopping 56 seconds off the course record which had stood for just over a year at 16:17 (Emma MITCHELL).
Ciara Mageean’s Triumph:
Ciara has been a high-level runner for over 10 years and currently competes in the Wanda Diamond League. Her time at Belfast Victoria also represents an all-time 5k PB for her…even beating her previous best track time of 15:24 (2023).
However, her greatest achievement to date was breaking Sonia O’Sullivan’s 1500m record in 2022 (Fun Fact: I once beat Sonia O’Sullivan at Bushy Park parkrun…I don’t think she was trying too hard 😉 )
The shoes
She raced in the New Balance FuelCell last year on the track and has New Balance branded clothing, so I guess she wore New Balance today as well.
Take Out
In conclusion, Ciara Mageean’s performance at Belfast Victoria today is a remarkable achievement in the world of 5K parkrunning. Breaking a record by 18 seconds is no small feat at this level.
See also: parkrun DofE Volunteer Opportunities (Duke of Edinburgh Award).
For more parkrun records, course guides, and training resources, see the parkrun hub.
Last Updated on 27 May 2026 by the5krunner
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
