Updated at 16.34
THERE WAS DISAPPOINTMENT for Mark English and Thomas Barr at the World Championships in Doha today
English’s seventh-place finish was not enough to see him qualify in his 800m heat. He started strongly and led at the halfway point of the race, but faded away thereafter, finishing with a time of 1:47.25.
Kenya’s Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich won with a time of 1:45.98, while USA’s Bryce Hoppel (1.46.01) and Tunisia’s Abdessalem Ayouni (1.46.09) were second and third respectively.
English had only learned he would be competing at the event eight days ago. The Donegal native was 0.4 seconds off the qualifying time, but go through thanks to the IAAF’s quota system.
“I just decided to front run it and not leave it up to hope. It just didn’t work out obviously,” he told Athletics Ireland afterwards.
Thomas Barr also exited the competition. Despite registering a season’s best of 49.02, the Waterford athlete’s fourth-place finish was not enough to reach the final of the Men’s 400m hurldles.
"I just decided to front run it and not leave it up to hope. It just didn't work out obviously."
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) September 28, 2019
No joy for Mark English who finishes 7th in his 800m heat in 1:47.25, but he'll be back stronger in 2020 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/2IevhsLGoK
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