Denise Toner is the W40 800 metres World Masters Champion after winning the final in Finland at the weekend with a time of 2.09.51.

The Clones Running Club member went into the Championships in good form, having captured a double gold in the 3,000m and 1,500m events in the European Championships earlier this year, but she admitted that this latest success tops her list of achievements.

“It is the one medal that I have always really wanted to get,” Denise admitted.

“I was hopeful, and I knew if I ran a good race I would have a chance of being in the medals, but to be honest I didn’t think I would get the gold. I was delighted!

“I didn’t know what to expect coming out. My training has gone well this year, but my races have been up and down and I have made some positional errors in some of the races that has cost me time and places.

“I wasn’t really confident coming in, but I knew I was in good shape.”

In the final, Denise opted to follow in the footsteps of the leading Swedish runner, before kicking for home on the final lap.

“It was my plan to sit on shoulders and not get boxed in, which I have done a few times this year, just to sit on the shoulder of the leader on the outside of lane one and not let any gaps open up,” explained Denise.

“I felt comfortable up until the last 20 metres and then I was praying for the line to come. I felt good and felt my stride was good. Paddy, my coach, had said, ‘When you commit to going, then just go for it’.

“You have one chance in the 800, and if you mistime it you are in trouble, but he said to kick, and kick the whole way home.

“I increased the stride a bit down the back straight, just before 300 I would say, and I went just before the 200 metre marker, and then tried to kick again at 150. It was a long sprint up that finish straight!

“I was 0.2 seconds ahead at the end. It was very close.”

Denise is now hoping to make a double gold, with the 1,500 metres final set to take place today (Thursday).

Once again she will start among the favourites, and has vowed to give it her best shot.

“If I run to the best of my ability and don’t make any mistakes in the race, then I have as good a chance as anybody else,” she reckoned.

“Everyone is very evenly matched and the standard is very high, so I don’t know. It is the last race of the track season, so I am going to give it a good lash and see what happens.”