MAGICIAN ASTOUNDS

McPhillips conjures up final place and hopes to pull medal out of hat

- BY MICHAEL SCULLY

CIAN MCPHILLIPS has raced into the unknown in Tokyo - and firmly into medal contention.

McPhillips stormed his way into the eight-man 800m decider at the World Championships with victory in the second of three semifinals yesterday.

He broke Mark English’s national record in the process, lowering his own PB that he set at the Morton Games in July by just over a second in 1.43.18 as veteran English bowed out after a brave third placed run in the first semifinal.