IRELAND’S MARK ENGLISH produced a brilliant final lap to finish third and qualify for the semi-finals of the men’s 800 metres.
The 23-year-old was at the back of the pack coming into the final 400m of the sixth of seven heats, but worked his way up through the field to qualify for the semi-final.
It was a tough ask, given only three could be guaranteed entry to the next stage, but the composed 23-year-old did enough to finish just behind the Canadian Brandon McBride and Marcin Lewandowski of Poland.
His time of 1.46.40 was about 1.3 seconds slower than the Olympic champion and current world record holder David Rudisha who qualified fastest in another first-round heat.
Advertisement
English knows he’ll have to run a faster time – about 1.44 – tomorrow to make the final of the competitive discipline. Two will automatically make the final from his race, joined by the top two in the other semis and the fastest two losers overall.
Speaking to RTÉ following the race, he said he was nervous but wanted the adrenaline of knowing he was about to race in the Olympics having missed out so narrowly to go to London 2012.
Meanwhile, Rudisha says he is feeling the pressure of his spectacular gold medal and world record in those Games.
“There’s a lot of pressure, of course, coming here as a defending champion, as a world record holder, as a world champion. There’s a lot of expectations but I’m doing my best, that’s all I can say,” he told reporters after his morning race.
But, he added, that there is no doubts over his current form.
“I think I’m very confident because I’m finding my power of finishing, the last 100 [metres]. So I think I’m in a position to control [races] again.
“Between last year and this year there is a huge difference. I feel like I’m in better form now. Better, almost close to my body in the years 2010-2012. I’ve never felt as good as in previous years, since I got injured.”
With reporting by Sinéad O’Carroll in Rio de Janeiro
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Mark English produces superb finish to qualify for the men's 800 metres semi-finals
IRELAND’S MARK ENGLISH produced a brilliant final lap to finish third and qualify for the semi-finals of the men’s 800 metres.
The 23-year-old was at the back of the pack coming into the final 400m of the sixth of seven heats, but worked his way up through the field to qualify for the semi-final.
It was a tough ask, given only three could be guaranteed entry to the next stage, but the composed 23-year-old did enough to finish just behind the Canadian Brandon McBride and Marcin Lewandowski of Poland.
His time of 1.46.40 was about 1.3 seconds slower than the Olympic champion and current world record holder David Rudisha who qualified fastest in another first-round heat.
English knows he’ll have to run a faster time – about 1.44 – tomorrow to make the final of the competitive discipline. Two will automatically make the final from his race, joined by the top two in the other semis and the fastest two losers overall.
Speaking to RTÉ following the race, he said he was nervous but wanted the adrenaline of knowing he was about to race in the Olympics having missed out so narrowly to go to London 2012.
Meanwhile, Rudisha says he is feeling the pressure of his spectacular gold medal and world record in those Games.
“There’s a lot of pressure, of course, coming here as a defending champion, as a world record holder, as a world champion. There’s a lot of expectations but I’m doing my best, that’s all I can say,” he told reporters after his morning race.
But, he added, that there is no doubts over his current form.
“I think I’m very confident because I’m finding my power of finishing, the last 100 [metres]. So I think I’m in a position to control [races] again.
“Between last year and this year there is a huge difference. I feel like I’m in better form now. Better, almost close to my body in the years 2010-2012. I’ve never felt as good as in previous years, since I got injured.”
With reporting by Sinéad O’Carroll in Rio de Janeiro
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Joy for Irish rowing as O’Donovan brothers claim historic silver medal at Olympics
‘It doesn’t really bother us that we are in an Olympic final’: All Irish eyes on Rio rowers today
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Mark Engish Olympic Games Olympics Olympics 2016 Rio Rio 2016