Mark English wins 800m semi-final in style at European Athletics Championships
Michael McAleer
Ireland's 2022 bronze medalist Mark English has won his semi-finals in the 800-metres in style, securing a final place at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
English, with a time of 1.43.49, finished the race well in control and becomes Ireland's leading contender for a medal at the events.
The 33-year-old three-time Olympian from Donegal already holds five senior European medals.
Earlier, Sophie Becker qualified for tomorrow's women's 400-metres semi-finals.
The Wexford native produced a season-best time of 52.28 seconds in her heat this morning.
Across the three opening round heats, the top 13 fastest times all progressed, with Becker’s heat won by Eveline Saalberg from the Netherlands in 51.65. All six athletes in the last heat ran faster, but Becker ended up ranked 13th from across the three heats, thus getting another run.
The 29-year-old was Ireland’s sole representative in the 400m, after the withdrawal through injury of Rachal McCann and then Sharlene Mawdsley.
Lauren Roy came fourth in round one of the 200-metres - she is waiting to see if her time of 23.2 seconds will be enough to progress.
In the evening session, Nicola Tuthill is in the hammer throw final at 7:45pm.
