English returns to action in Sweden, McGrory third in Belgium

Mark English returned to the track on Saturday in Sweden while Kelly McGrory finished third in a race in Belgium.

The World Championship-bound duo are on the countdown to making the journey to Budapest later this month,

Finn Valley AC’s English skipped last weekend’s National Senior Championships in Santry and the four-time European medallist has been troubled with injury in recent weeks.

English was back in action at the Folksam Grand Prix in Malmö - a World Athletics Continental Tour, Challenger meet.

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The Letterkenny native was fourth in the men’s 800m, finishing in 1:47.20.

Former European silver medallist Andreas Kramer won the Malmö race in 1:45.16. France’s Paul Anselmini, the bronze medal winner at the European Under-23 Championships last month, was second in 1:45.5 with James Preston from New Zealand third in 1:45.90.

English is one of three Donegal athletes selected for the World Championships, alongside Tir Chonaill hurdler McGrory and Finn Valley AC race walker Boyce.

At the Flanders Cup, Meeting voor Mon in Leuven, Belgium on Saturday, McGrory finished third in the women’s 400m hurdles.

Tir Chonaill AC’s McGrory finished in 58.97 seconds.

Belgian Hanne Claes won in 56.82 seconds with Vera Barbosa from Portugal second in 57.56 seconds.

McGrory has been selected for her first World Athletics Championships having been the silver medallist at the National Senior Championships. In Budapest, McGrory will be a part of the Irish women’s 4x400m relay squad.