Mark English flexes his finishing muscle to win latest Irish 800m title

Mark English flicked the switch in the final 200m to ease to his 18th national senior title.

The Olympic-qualified English won the ninth senior outdoor 800m of his career.

The on-form Finn Valley AC man soared to gold in 1:49.20.

English, who began out of lane 3, was nestled behind pace-setter Cillian Kirwan heading for the last 200m. The 31-year-old doctor, who lowered the Irish 800m twice in recent weeks, hit the high gears to win comfortably.

“I first won this in 2011 and it has been a long time since,” the Letterkenny native said after the win. “It doesn't get any easier and I'm delighted to get the win.

Kirwan, from Raheny Shamrocks, was second in 1:51.08 and led the charge in a race that began at a pedestrian pace.

English effortlessly came through his heat, breezing over in 1:51.90. English has taken the Irish record to 1:44.69 and then 1:44.53 in the last month, sealing his place at the Olympic Games in Paris in the process.

Four-time European medal winner said: “I'm approaching the end of my career now. My aim this year was to make the Olympics and to break the national record in the process; I've done that twice now.

“I need that finishing speed. I need that going into Paris. I have a few races in my plan now, but it's full steam ahead towards Paris now.

Tir Chonaill AC's Fintan Dewhirst took silver in the 400m hurdles final – beaten only by Irish hurdles ace Thomas Barr.

Dewhirst finished in 51.65 seconds with Barr coming home in 50.61 seconds.

Dewhirst is readying for the World U20 Championships, which take place in Lima, Peru in August.

Two years ago, Dewhirst was a European U18 siver medal winner and is pushing the button again following the completion of his Leaving Certificate.

His younger brother, Ethan Dewhirst, who will compete next month in the European U18 Championships in Slovakia, clipped a barrier on the back straight and was fourth, crossing the line in 53.98 seconds.

Ethan was second in his heat on Saturday to Barr with Fintan the winner of his heat.

In the women's hammer, Adrienne Gallen of Lifford-Strabane AC bagged the bronze medal. Gallen reached out to 54.95m with Nicola Tuthill from UCD AC winning gold with a 68.54m best and Tallaght AC's Margaret Hayden taking silver thanks to a 59.02m throw.

Amy Greene of Finn Valley AC was fourth in the 3,000m steeplechase. Greene clocked 10:32.26 with Michelle Finn grabbing gold in 10:05.25.