English goes down fighting at World Athletics Championships as McPhillips shines

Mark English made a brave fist of it in his effort to make the final of the Men's 800m of the World Athletics Championships at a rainy Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.

With the top two qualifying automatically, the Letterkenny native came third in his semi-final after making a daring burst in the last 150 metres to go in front. 

However, come the finish line, Marc Arop from Canada was first home in a time of 1:45:09, the same time as second-placed Djamel Sedjeti of Algeria, with English holding on for third in 1:45.47 ahead of Maciej Wyderka from Poland, who finished in a 1:45.55. 

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English, from Finn Valley AC, was in a stacked race with Aron, the 2023 world champion, having won silver at the Olympics in Paris last year and Sedjati bronze. 

English’s hopes of making the final as a fastest loser were dashed after the second of the three semi-finals, which was won spectacularly by his Irish teammate Cian McPhilips. The Longford native ran 1:43.18 to break the national record and seal his place in the final.