MARK ENGLISH overcame injury fears with a sensational finish to win the 800m at the Diamond League in Birmingham and inch closer to World Championship qualification.
The Letterkenny man made a late burst to win the race in a season’s best 1:45.94
It was by some distance English’s fastest time of the season and takes him closer to the 1:45.80 qualifying time for next month’s World Championships in Doha.
“I felt good and it’s a pity I wasn’t higher up in the race earlier on but I got the job done,” English said.
“I have to get the job done to get to Doha now, that’s the main aim and I race again in midweek hoping to get closer.”
English was lying in eighth position with 100m to go, having been even further back at the bend, but a stunning late kick saw him take the win.
Kenyan Alfred Kipketer was second in 1:46.10 with Great Britain’s Elliot Giles third in 1:46.27.
English returns to action at the Morton Games in midweek, although it is now highly-likely that he will be awarded a spot in Doha npow
On Wednesday night, English pulled up 200m from the end of the 800m at the BAM Cork City Sports, sparking fears that the three-time European medalist was in difficulty.
English recently won his seventh Irish Senior Championship title and last weekend he came second in the 800m at the European Team Championships with a 1:50.06 effort.
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