Mark English kicks well to win in Watford

Mark English continued his encouraging early season form with a win in England on Saturday evening.

The Finn Valley AC man finished well to win the men’s 800m A race at the Saucony British Milers Club International Grand Prix.

English finished in 1:46.42 to take the win.

Kyle Langford led much of the way, but English kicked strongly over the last 30 metres to win at the Watford Woodside Arena.

Shaftesbury Barnet athlete Langford crossed the line in 1:46.86 while Australian Jye Perrott was third in 1:47.15.

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English began his outdoor campaign with a 1:46.61 in Belgium to win at the IFAM Outdoor International Flanders Athletics Meet.

The two-time Olympian, who set new Irish 800m records, indoor and outdoor, in 2021, and who has European and World Championships on his horizon, is in good stead so far.

In a women’s 800m race in Watford, Finn Valley AC’s Cara Laverty finished in second. Laverty, an under-20 athlete, was second in 2:09.62 with the race won by Charlotte Young in 2:09.40.

In Holland, just three days after setting a new Ulster shot put record, John Kelly again threw beyond 19m on Saturday. Kelly was fourth in the meet in Amsterdam when throwing out to 19.10m.

On Wednesday evening Kelly landed the shot at 19.57m at the Trond Mohn Games - the fourth best ever by an Irish athlete.