tMark English was 0.2 seconds off qualifying for the final of the 800m at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.
The Finn Valley AC man was 5th in his semi-final with a time of 1:45.78, with Australian Peter Bol’s 1:45.58 being the time to beat to make the final.
English ran a superb race yesterday as he finished 4th in his heat, which was bumped up to third when Jonah Koech was disqualified, but also recorded a Season’s Best, running 1:44.76 at the Hayward Field in Eugene.
It was also the fastest time ever run by an Irishman in a Championship race but unfortunately he couldn’t hit the same heights in this mornings semi-final.
English set himself in 3rd position behind world under-20 gold medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya, and African 800m champion Slimane Moula.
Canadian Marco Arop would then lead the charge in the second lap and English tried to keep with the leaders, but would eventually fall to 5th as Benjamin Robert snatched 4th.
Moula won the heat in a 1:44.89, and despite being 5th fastest in the semi-final, English still was an impressive 10th fastest overall from the three semi-finals.
