MARK ENGLISH RAN a personal best as he finished sixth in the 800m final at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
Contesting his first global senior final, the European champion clocked 1:42.78 in Budapest.
Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati won a blistering race in 1:41.91, with Canadian Marco Arop second in 1:42.28 and Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya finishing third in 1:42.54.
A record $10 million (€8.59 million) purse is on offer across the weekend: individual winners pocket $150,000 (€129,300) with each competitor enjoying a pay day. English pockets $14,000 (€12,075) for his sixth-place finish.
The Donegal doctor won his semi-final on Saturday in 1:43.74. He went on to lower his personal best once more on Sunday, his previous mark of 1:42.97 set at the London Diamond League meet in July.
English, 33, has repeatedly threatened Cian McPhillips’ national record across a superb season, but the 1:42.15 mark endures.
Meanwhile, Rhasidat Adeleke narrowly missed out on a spot in the 200m final. The Tallaght sprinter finished fifth in her semi-final, clocking a time of 22.81 seconds, leaving her one spot outside the qualification zone.
Paris Olympic champion Gabby Thomas was quickest in Adeleke’s field, finishing in 21.88.
Advertisement
A slow start from Adeleke left a lot to do, although a strong finish saw her almost close the gap to the slowest successful qualifier, Switzerland’s Fabienne Hoenke, who crossed the line at 22.72.
The Dubliner leaves with $8,000 (€6,900) for her efforts, closing her season out at Athlos meetings in London and New York over the coming weeks.
Sharlene Mawdsley was the other Irish athlete in action at the Ultimate Championships, missing out on progression to the 400m final on Friday night.
Elsewhere in Budapest on Sunday, Britain’s Josh Kerr produced a devastating last lap to seal a dominant victory in the men’s 1,500m. Kerr, fresh from setting a new world record in the mile, hit the front with 300m to run.
The 2023 world champion held his nerve to hold off a surge by Australia’s Cameron Myers to clock 3:29.35 to walk away with the winner’s cheque for $150,000.
Diamond League winner Myers, 20, came in second, at 0.33sec. A trio of Americans followed: Hobbs Kessler, Olympic champion Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse, Olympic bronze medallist.
“I didn’t feel amazing during the warm-up but I knew I could do it. This prize money is absolutely incredible,” said Kerr. “I just didn’t want to push too early.
“The rhythm of the race made the most sense for me – someone else pushed in the front and I managed to push hard in the finish. I didn’t race a lot this season so I kind of came here fresh and ready to go.”
One notable absentee from the race was Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who won the 5,000m but withdrew from the 1,500m.
US pair Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek nailed Ultimate Championship sprint doubles after searing to victories in the 200m a day after sealing the 100m crowns.
World champion Jefferson-Wooden enjoyed a great start and an even better transition down the home straight to clock a sensational 21.47 seconds for victory.
The 25-year-old’s time was the fourth fastest ever run. Only world record holder Florence Griffith Joyner (21.34) and Jamaican Shericka Jackson (21.41 and 21.45) have gone faster.
In a US sweep, Olympic champion Gabby Thomas took second in 21.77, with Kayla White rounding out the podium (21.93).
“I did not see 21.47 coming tonight!” said Jefferson-Wooden, with onlooking Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt on his feet and applauding in the stands.
The men’s 200m saw Bednarek, in lane six outside Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, with Canada’s Andre De Grasse in seven, lead from the gun and rip through the line in 19.52sec.
That improved his personal best by 0.05sec to put him seventh on the all-time list, with Bolt — the world record holder with 19.19sec — again a keen onlooker.
Tebogo claimed second in a season’s best of 19.76sec, with Bednarek’s US teammate Courtney Lindsey rounding out the podium in 19.79.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
3 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Mark English runs PB and finishes sixth in 800m final at Ultimate Championship
LAST UPDATE | 13 Sep
MARK ENGLISH RAN a personal best as he finished sixth in the 800m final at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
Contesting his first global senior final, the European champion clocked 1:42.78 in Budapest.
Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati won a blistering race in 1:41.91, with Canadian Marco Arop second in 1:42.28 and Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya finishing third in 1:42.54.
A record $10 million (€8.59 million) purse is on offer across the weekend: individual winners pocket $150,000 (€129,300) with each competitor enjoying a pay day. English pockets $14,000 (€12,075) for his sixth-place finish.
The Donegal doctor won his semi-final on Saturday in 1:43.74. He went on to lower his personal best once more on Sunday, his previous mark of 1:42.97 set at the London Diamond League meet in July.
English, 33, has repeatedly threatened Cian McPhillips’ national record across a superb season, but the 1:42.15 mark endures.
Meanwhile, Rhasidat Adeleke narrowly missed out on a spot in the 200m final. The Tallaght sprinter finished fifth in her semi-final, clocking a time of 22.81 seconds, leaving her one spot outside the qualification zone.
Paris Olympic champion Gabby Thomas was quickest in Adeleke’s field, finishing in 21.88.
A slow start from Adeleke left a lot to do, although a strong finish saw her almost close the gap to the slowest successful qualifier, Switzerland’s Fabienne Hoenke, who crossed the line at 22.72.
The Dubliner leaves with $8,000 (€6,900) for her efforts, closing her season out at Athlos meetings in London and New York over the coming weeks.
Sharlene Mawdsley was the other Irish athlete in action at the Ultimate Championships, missing out on progression to the 400m final on Friday night.
Elsewhere in Budapest on Sunday, Britain’s Josh Kerr produced a devastating last lap to seal a dominant victory in the men’s 1,500m. Kerr, fresh from setting a new world record in the mile, hit the front with 300m to run.
The 2023 world champion held his nerve to hold off a surge by Australia’s Cameron Myers to clock 3:29.35 to walk away with the winner’s cheque for $150,000.
Diamond League winner Myers, 20, came in second, at 0.33sec. A trio of Americans followed: Hobbs Kessler, Olympic champion Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse, Olympic bronze medallist.
“I didn’t feel amazing during the warm-up but I knew I could do it. This prize money is absolutely incredible,” said Kerr. “I just didn’t want to push too early.
“The rhythm of the race made the most sense for me – someone else pushed in the front and I managed to push hard in the finish. I didn’t race a lot this season so I kind of came here fresh and ready to go.”
One notable absentee from the race was Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who won the 5,000m but withdrew from the 1,500m.
US pair Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek nailed Ultimate Championship sprint doubles after searing to victories in the 200m a day after sealing the 100m crowns.
World champion Jefferson-Wooden enjoyed a great start and an even better transition down the home straight to clock a sensational 21.47 seconds for victory.
The 25-year-old’s time was the fourth fastest ever run. Only world record holder Florence Griffith Joyner (21.34) and Jamaican Shericka Jackson (21.41 and 21.45) have gone faster.
In a US sweep, Olympic champion Gabby Thomas took second in 21.77, with Kayla White rounding out the podium (21.93).
“I did not see 21.47 coming tonight!” said Jefferson-Wooden, with onlooking Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt on his feet and applauding in the stands.
The men’s 200m saw Bednarek, in lane six outside Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, with Canada’s Andre De Grasse in seven, lead from the gun and rip through the line in 19.52sec.
That improved his personal best by 0.05sec to put him seventh on the all-time list, with Bolt — the world record holder with 19.19sec — again a keen onlooker.
Tebogo claimed second in a season’s best of 19.76sec, with Bednarek’s US teammate Courtney Lindsey rounding out the podium in 19.79.
– © AFP 2026, with reporting from Gareth Lyons and Emma Duffy
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Athletics Ireland mark english Rhasidat Adeleke Sprinting World Athletics Ultimate Championship