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Mark English (file pic). Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Mark English breaks Irish 800m record to seal spot at Tokyo Games at the 11th hour

Entries for the Olympics end at midnight tonight but the Donegal man produced a sensational performance when he needed it most.

DONEGAL’S MARK ENGLISH broke the Irish 800m by just over a tenth of a second and beat the automatic Olympic qualifying mark in Castello, Spain, to seal his spot at the Tokyo Olympics at the 11th hour.

The Finn Valley AC man ran a time of 1:44.71 to book his seat on the plane, with Tokyo entries due to close at midnight tonight.

English finished second this evening at the Trofeo Diputación Memorial Cansino behind Algeria’s Yassine Hethat (1:44:25).

The Irishman’s time beat a 26-year-old national record held by David Matthews.

English, 28, is a three-time European medalist and will now not have to rely on his world/qualification ranking to get him to Tokyo.

He had been sitting in 48th, with 48 athletes assured of a spot at the Games. However, after several weeks of strong performances with which he knocked on the door, he finally sealed the deal this evening and chalked down a new national record for good measure.

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    Mute Anthony
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    Jun 1st 2019, 4:52 PM

    Oh Tiger Tiger Tiger. U are definitely not one to cast stones. The alleged comments he made pale in comparison to how tiger has behaved and used women in the past.

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    Mute Daniel Lehane
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    Jun 1st 2019, 6:12 PM

    @Anthony: I didn’t see any casting of stones? He was asked a question and answered it. Also the comments were not alleged. He said them on the radio. Have a listen.

    Tiger changed golf, and, like him or not, is one of the greatest sportsmen in history. Helped of course by the fact that his career coincided with the explosion of sport of TV and social media.

    He also had consensual sex with a shed load of women in his private life, while married. You don’t have to agree with that, but then again, it’s none of your business.

    Don’t you be casting stones now.

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    Mute Aging Lothario
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    Jun 1st 2019, 4:52 PM

    Women’s lib has gone crazy, just look at the Sunday Game, ruined with all the women on it!!

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    Mute Pl O'neill
    Favourite Pl O'neill
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    Jun 1st 2019, 4:45 PM

    Just out of curiosity is what he said true ?

    And the old Free Speech .

    And its not compulsory to like womens sport .

    An auld reprimand would probably be enough .

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jun 1st 2019, 5:29 PM

    Suspended. Apologised. Move on.

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    Mute adrian brogan
    Favourite adrian brogan
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    Jun 1st 2019, 5:36 PM

    Tiger is likely still pissed with Haney over his book “The Big Miss” where he gives detailed insight into his time with Tiger. Its an excellent read.

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    Mute Mark Smith
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    Jun 1st 2019, 6:55 PM

    Did Tiger get what he deserved ?

    I think not. Horrible man and hopefully it all comes back to bite him

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    Mute Finbarr Dowling
    Favourite Finbarr Dowling
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    Jun 1st 2019, 7:55 PM

    Tiger gives me the Willies. Horrible self obsessed and smug. I hope he doesn’t win the lotto

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