Mark English out of European Championships after tough heat

Mark English bowed out of the European Athletics Championships on Friday morning in Rome.

The Finn Valley AC man's bid for a fifth European medal ended after he finished fifth in his heat.

The 31-year-old doctor, going out of lane four at the Stadio Olimpico, clocked 1:46.73 for fifth in the second of four heats.

The time was not enough for English to advance to the semi-finals.

English had a fine first 200m and led at the bell only to see some rivals up their gears in the last 100m.

European indoor gold medallist Adrián Ben from Spain won the heat in 1:46.39 with Briton Elliot Giles, the 2016 European bronze medallist, was second in 1:46.44.

Andreas Kramer from Sweden, the 2018 silver medallist, was third in 1:46.46 and Belgian Eliott Crestan, the World Indoor bronze medal winner, was just ahead of English, crossing the line fourth in 1:46.48.

At the 2014 edition of these Championships in Zurich and the 2022 version in Munich, English won bronze medals. His sideboard also includes European indoor silver (2015) and bronze (2019) medals.

English competed at the 2016 and 2021 Olympic Games and will hope to go under starter's orders in Paris later this summer.

English recently won the 800m at the IX Memorial José Antonio Cansino meeting in Castellón in 1:45.85.

That improved on the 1:46.47 and 1:47.154 times recorded at Diamond League meetings in China to open his outdoor season.

Tir Chonaill AC's Kelly McGrory will line up on Sunday in the 400m hurdles and is also in the mix to be in the 4x400m relay team that goes into action on Tuesday.

Injury has prevented Finn Valley AC duo Brendan Boyce and Roisin Flanagan taking their places in the race walk and 5000m.