Sarah McDonald (born 2 August 1993) is an English middle-distance runner specialising in the 1500 metres. Sarah was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and attended the Royal Grammar School. She represented her country at the 2017 World Championships. In addition, she reached the final at the 2016 European Championships and 2017 European Indoor Championships. She became British Indoor Champion in 2017 over 1500m. In 2016 she became the English 800m Champion. At the European Cross Country Championships in 2017 she won team gold in the inaugural mixed relay, where she ran the fastest leg of the day. She represented England in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast reaching the 1500m Final. In 2019, she became British Champion over 1500m and also reached the Semi-Final of the World Championships in Doha. 2019 she won gold at the European Cross-Country in the mixed relay.
She was an ice-skater before turning to athletics after a serious hip injury. Sarah studied medicine at Birmingham University where she moved in 2011.Athlete insight – Sarah McDonald
In early 2021, McDonald revealed she had been assaulted during a training run in Birmingham. The incident, in which a passenger on a passing moped grabbed her buttocks, left her in "a state of shock."
International competitions Representing and 2016European ChampionshipsAmsterdam, Netherlands9th1500 m4:34.932017European Indoor ChampionshipsBelgrade, Serbia6th1500 m4:13.67World ChampionshipsLondon, United Kingdom17th (sf)1500 m4:06.73European Cross CountryŠamorín, Slovakia1stMixed Relay 2018Commonwealth GamesGold Coast, Australia 8th1500 m4:05.772019European Indoor ChampionshipsGlasgow, United Kingdom15th (h)1500 m4:17.64World ChampionshipsDoha, Qatar17th (sf)1500 m4:15.73European Cross CountryLisbon, Portugal1stMixed Relay
Personal bests All-Athletics profile
Outdoor 400 metres – 55.35 (Hendon 2016) 800 metres – 1:59:91 (Tipton 2019) 1000 metres – 2:38:49 (Gothenburg 2017) 1500 metres – 4:00:46 (London 2019) One mile – 4:20:85 (London 2018)
Indoor 800 metres – 2:04:34(Sheffield 2019) 1000 metres – 2:39.53 (Birmingham 2017) 1500 metres – 4.07.62 (Boston 2018) One mile – 4:32.06 (New York 2017)
References