Mark English (Letterkenny AC) finished a magnificent fifth place in the men’s 800m final on the last day of competition at the World Junior Track and Field Championships in Barcelona, Spain. The Donegal native produced a truly world class performance against a field of the highest quality.
The real fireworks began with 200m to go. The race favourite Nigel Amos of Botswana broke the field apart by scorching into the lead and driving effortlessly towards the line. The two Kenyan athlete’s unleashed kicks of their own as English battled with incredible determination to hold his position.
In the end English crossed the line in fifth place in a time of 1.46.02. The race was won by Amos in a new championship record of 1.43.79.
English’s time of 1.46.02 was his second quickest ever for the distance.
Fifth seems to be a popular number for English this year as the Irish Junior Record (1.45.77), he set earlier in the season, moved him to fifth on the Irish all-time list.
Mark told Will Downing he could not be happier with what he’s achieved.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
