Mark English (Finn Valley AC) has sealed his place in tomorrow’s 800m final at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, after an impressive semi-final run.

English, who is a two-time medallist at these championships, showed all his experience to advance to the decider, clocking 1:45.89 to finish third in his semi-final race.

The 31-year-old qualified doctor positioned himself well throughout but with less than 100m to go found himself in fourth, outside the qualifying positions. He then demonstrated his considerable tactical nous, remained patient, found a gap and dug deep to finish in one of the all-important top three spots.

Speaking afterwards English told Athletics Ireland:

“Its job done. I’m just happy to make the final to be honest, that was the main aim. I got in the top three and I can’t wait for tomorrow. The race kind of worked out as I expected it to, there was one or two surprises. It was a real championship race, thankfully I have experience of plenty of them over the years and that stood to me.”

In the first semi-final Cian McPhillips (UCD AC) finished seventh in 1:47.40, which wasn’t enough to make the final.

The young Longford athlete, competing at only his second ever major senior international, was in contention until the final lap when he unfortunately ran out of gas.

“I was hoping to do a little bit better. I put myself in the mix. The fall yesterday shook me up a little bit, I had a very seized up calf and stiff knee and I could only actually do some strides a couple of hours ago but that’s no excuse, I just didn’t have it on the day,” McPhillips told Athletics Ireland.

Earlier in the evening Bori Akinola (UCD AC) failed to advance to the final of the Men’s 60m.

The 23-year-old clocked the second fastest time of his life, 6.63 seconds, to finish fourth in his semi-final. This placed Akinola 11^th overall.

Speaking afterwards Akinola was disappointed but was able to take some positives:

“It’s disappointing. In context it is my second fastest time ever, but I was hoping to bring my best performance here, to PB, run 6.60 or under which is the B standard for World Indoors, but it wasn’t to be today,” he said.

“If you had told me last year that I’d be making the semi-finals I would’ve been over the moon…There’s going to be many more major championships [for me].”

Tomorrow is the final day of the championships at the Omnisport Arena and there will be plenty of Irish interest. Kate O’Connor competes in the Pentathlon, Sarah Healy and Andrew Coscoran race in 3000m finals, Mark English goes in the men’s 800m final and then the women’s 4x400m relay team will bring the championships to a close.

Team Ireland Schedule

Morning Session – Sunday March 9^th

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – 60m Hurdles – 08:00 (09:00)
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – High Jump – 08:50 (09:50)
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – Shot Put – 11:21 (12:21)

Evening Session – Sunday March 9^th

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – Long Jump – 14:10 (15:10)
• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 3000m – Final – 15:50 (16:50)
• Mark English – Men’s 800m – Final – 16:27 (17:27)
• Sarah Healy – Women’s 3000m – Final – 16:36 (17:36)
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – 800m – 17:03 (18:03)
• Women’s 4x400m Relay – Final – 17:50 (18:50)

• Results are HERE