Mark English fifth in Boston as Arlene Crossan breaks Donegal record in Glasgow

Mark English finished fifth in a race won by world indoor gold medallist Bryce Hoppel on Sunday.

The Finn Valley AC man clocked 1:46.82 in the 800m at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston.

Over four laps of The Track at New Balance, English ran marginally slower than his recent 1:46.48 in Nantes at Metting de Nantes Metropole.

United States ace Hoppel, the gold medalist at last year’s World Indoor Championships in Glasgow and the bronze medal winner from the previous edition in Belgrade in 2022, eased to victory in 1:46.04.

Abe Alvarado from the United States was second in 1:46.55 with Elvin Josue Canales. - a former Central American gold medallist who ran at the Olympics last year - third in 1:46.60. 

Netherlands Olympian Ryan Clarke was fourth, crossing the line in 1:46.68.

Four-time European medallist English, off the back of an encouraging Olympics, reaching the semi-finals of the 800m in Paris, has eyes on European and World Indoor Championships this year.

First, though, he is expected to run next weekend in the Millrose Games and go four laps of The Armory in New York, with a tilt at his latest Irish title likely to be made later in February at the National Senior Indoor Championships.

Also in action on Sunday evening, Finn Valley AC’s Arlene Crossan set a new Donegal indoor 400m record.

Crossan clocked 55.35 seconds at the EAP indoor International, held at the Emirates Arena. 

Read next: Ann-Marie McGlynn places ninth as Letterkenny AC take top ten finish in Portugal

Crossan, whose previous best in the event was 55.92, was fifth in her race, while fellow Irish athlete Sharlene Mawdsley won another indoor 400m at the same meet in 51.69.

Crossan’s time eclipses Kelly McGrory’s 55.74, set back in 2019.