Patsy McGonagle hails ‘world class’ Mark English

Patsy McGonagle, the former Irish athletics team manager, says Mark English has demonstrated again that he is a genuine world class athlete.

English booked his place in the 800m semi-finals at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

The Finn Valley AC runner clocked a season’s best time of 1:45.71 to finish fourth in his heat on Tuesday evening - the second of seven heats at the National Athletics Centre in the Hungarian capital.

The four-time European medallist showed again, in spite of an injury-hampered season and a difficult race, his calibre on the big stage.

Season's best sees Mark English into World 800m semi-finals

Finn Valley AC runner Mark English overcame a bump on the opening lap to seal a place in Thursday evening's semi-finals

“It showed unbelievable mental resolve,” McGonagle, who led the Irish team to four Olympic Games, six World and six European Athletics Championships, told Donegal Live.

“That mental approach has served him well in Championship races over many years to become the world class athlete that he is. He is one of the top 800m runners in the world.

“People need to really wake up to the fact that Mark English is the finest athlete that this county has ever produced. Indeed, he would be in a conversation regarding the finest sportsperson. His longevity and performance at the top level is remarkable.”

The 30-year-old had to endure an agonising wait in the Q room to see if his time would be good enough to go through as one of the fastest qualifiers.

Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela in 1:45.60 and Filip Ostrowski from Poland, who went 1:45.76, also went through to Thursday evening's semi-final.

English was hampered in the opening 200m of his race and was bumped by Jamaican athlete Navasky Anderson during the first lap, but demonstrated the powers of his mentality to finish well.

Mateusz Borkowski from Poland won the heat in 1:45.40 with Great Britain’s Max Burgin second in 1:45.43 and Australian Joseph Deng third in 1:45.48.

English’s previous best this season saw him go 1:46.53 in France in May.

McGonagle said: “Last year, Mark finished ninth in the world and only marginally missed out on the final. If you get to a final, anything can happen.”