MARK ENGLISH HAS broken his own Irish 800m record for the second time this week.
The Donegal star clocked a time of 1:44.53 at the Meeting Madrid in the Spanish capital last night, having run 1:44.69 at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland on Tuesday.
The latter time – two-hundredths of a second faster than his previous three-year national record — saw him seal his qualification for the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
The soon-to-be three-time Olympian finished fourth last night, with Belgium’s Elliot Cretan triumphing in a time of 1:44.28.
💥 ENGLISH LOWERS OWN 800M NATIONAL RECORD IN MADRID 💥
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) June 21, 2024
Mark English (Finn Valley AC) has once again lowered his own Irish 800m national record 🤩
Competing at the Meeting Madrid tonight the 31-year-old clocked a time of 1:44.53 to finish fourth. It is the Donegal man's second… pic.twitter.com/60I67kSSTJ
Sharlene Mawdsley also returned to action in Madrid after her superb European Championships showing. She recorded the second fastest 400m time of her career, 50.82, as she was pipped on the line and finished second.
Sarah Healy was also second in the 800m (2:01.30), while Nick Griggs finished sixth in his 1500m (3:35.64).
As well as Mark English's 800m NR last night in Madrid, other Irish athletes also impressed ☘️
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) June 22, 2024
💥 Sharlene Mawdsley - 2nd - 400m - 50.82
💥 Sarah Healy - 2nd - 800m - 2:01.30
💥 Nick Griggs - 6th - 1500m - 3:35.64
💥 Nicola Tuthill - 7th - Hammer Throw - 69.33m#IrishAthletics pic.twitter.com/XVBhwSfK7r
On the field, Nicola Tuthill was seventh in the Hammer Throw. Her best effort of 69.33m came in the second round.
Meanwhile, Kate Veale and Brendan Boyce are bidding for Olympic qualification in the Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay at Morton Stadium this morning.
That time would have won gold in European Championships final. Incredible speed and talent but championship running is a completely different test.
There must be some work going on behind the scenes because the results of late in irish track and pool have been amazing. Let just hope Michelle Smiths old trainer isn’t back……
Or perhaps it’s a case that Michelle Smith type trainers aren’t as successful in other countries with more strongest testing etc. that has allowed Irish athletes to be more competitive and competing on a more equal playing field.