Ciara Mageean becomes first Irish woman to break the 2 minute barrier for 800m

For decades, the top female Irish middle distance athletes have been trying to break the two minute barrier for 800m. On Friday the 23rd of July 2020, Ciara Mageean became the first Irish woman to run under two minutes at a race in Bern, Switzerland.

The City of Lisburn AC athlete and Portaferry native broke the time barrier in 1:59.69 to claim first place in the 800m final, a full second ahead of Norway’s Hynne Hedda.

Ciara also broke her own previous time of 2:00.79, set in Dublin in 2016 and the Irish record of 2:00.58 which was set in 2013 by Rose-Anne Galligan at the London Anniversary Games.

In a recent interview before the event Ciara stated “It’s my first competition in five months and I can’t wait. I think this is the fittest I’ve ever been. The past few months have made me hungry again for the thrill of racing. In the past I often got so nervous and put so much pressure on myself that I didn’t enjoy racing very much. I’d step on the line with fear, worried how it might go. But now I have a different mindset: I’m excited to see what I can do.”

Top 10 Irish Female 800m Times...

1 NR 1:59.69 Ciara Mageean, Bern 23 Jul 2020
2 2:00.58 NR Rose-Anne Galligan, London 26 Jul 2013
3 2:00.69 NR Sonia O'Sullivan, Sankt Peterburg 28 Jul 1994
4 2:00.70 Caroline O'Shea, Cork 3 Jul 1984
5 2:00.93 Laura Crowe, Rieti 8 Sep 2013
6 2:01.14 Aisling Molloy, EC Split 27 Aug 1990
7 2:01.21 Ciara Everard, Oordegem 23 May 2015
8 2:01.61 Claire Mooney, Heusden 21 Jul 2018
9 2:01.67 Síofra Cléirigh, Büttner Watford 29 Jun 2019
10 2:01.89 NU23R Aoife Byrne, Namur 17 Aug 20

Video of the race...

Esto es histórico. Primer sub 2 minutos en los 800m hecho por una mujer irlandesa. La hazaña la ha hecho Ciara Mageean @ciaramageean esta noche. Enhorabuena 👏 👏 pic.twitter.com/59LC20Pfo0

— Sub4TrackClub (@AtletismoSub4) July 25, 2020

Sophie O'Sullivan wins Silver in Women's 800m final at the European U18 Championships

Sophie O'Sullivan wins Silver in Women's 800m final at the European U18 Championships in Hungary.

Joe Gough of West Waterford AC sets new World Masters Record

At an indoor 800m race in Abbotstown, Dublin on Thursday evening, Joe Gough (M65) of West Waterford AC set a new masters indoor world record! Finishing in a time of 2m 16.65s, Joe broke the previous over 65 indoor world record of 2m 16.80s which was set by Earl Fee of Canada way back in 1994.

15 year old Sophie O'Sullivan wins 800m at Morton Games

The annual Morton Games in Dublin was held on Wednesday 12th of July 2017 and there were a number of international athletes in action as well as of course some of the best of the Irish.

In one of the 800m races, 15 year old Sophie O'Sullivan won in a time of 2m 11.13s. Sophie is the daughter of Olympic Silver medalist Sonia O'Sullivan and she is the U17 Australian champion over 800m and 1500m.

Results

Olympic Champion David Rudisha opens 2016 Season with 1:44.78 800m in Australia

The 800m Olympic Champion and World record holder David Rudisha began his 2016 season with a victory at the IAAF World Challenge in Melbourne, Australia. His time was 1:44.78 and his fifth win in Melbourne.

IAAF WORLD CHALLENGE - MELBOURNE
Event 34 Men 800 Metre Open
1 Rudisha, David Ken 1:44.78
2 Mathews, Luke Aus 1:45.16Q
3 Gurr, James Aus 1:46.09

O'Sullivan wins 800m race in Victoria, Australia

It sounds like a headline from 20 years ago but this time around, it's Sonia O'Sullivan's daughter Sophie who is on a winning streak. At some recent Schools Championships in Victoria, Sophie has been winning a number of races in the U15 category.

VICTORIAN ALL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015
Sophie O’Sullivan   
High Jump      1.50m  4th
800m        2:15.36     GOLD
1500m      4:41.60     GOLD


Back in October, Sophie who runs for Ballymore-Cobh AC when she is in Ireland posted these results...
Sophie O’Sullivan  U14
High J         1.52m           1st
800m            2:17.48        1st
1500m         4:59.46        1st
400m            62.29            2nd

The video clip shows Sophie winning the Girls U15 800m race in 2m 15s. She is in purple and leads from early on.

Talk by top athletics coach Br.Colm O'Connell in Eyeries...Fri 25th Sept 2015

Brother Colm O'Connell has been the coach to some of the greatest of the Kenyan athletes including David Rudisha who won Gold in the 800m at the 2012 London Olympics. On Friday the 25th of September, Colm will be giving a talk at the National School in Eyeries in West Cork.

For anyone young or old with an interest in athletics, this is one not to be missed.

From the organisers......Eyeries Running Promotions are delighted to announce the visit of Br.Colm O'Connell to Eyeries to promote our upcoming Eyeries 5 Mile Road Race. Br. Colm is home from Kenya for a few weeks and has agreed to come and give a talk in Eyeries National School on Friday 25th September.

Br.Colm is coach to many Kenyan athletes who have acheived great success for their country around the globe, including the current 800m Olympic and World Champion and Record Holder David Rudisha.

We will also have Ian Kiprono as guest speaker at our event in Eyeries on Friday. Ian is taking over the reigns at Iten from Br.Colm and will have some very interesting insights into training.
Our MC for the evening will be Mike McGrath of Eagle Athletic Club.

Eyeries 5 mile Road Race takes place on Saturday 7th November at 2:30pm and we will be hoping for another successful event this year. We are delighted to be sponsored again by Murphy's SuperValu, Castletownbere and The Edge Sports Superstore Cork. Last years run raised much needed funds for the Eyeries Playground and the fruits of our labours can be seen by all visitors to the village.

Since we started our road race last year, there has been two new races added to the Beara running calendar with the Allihies 5 mile and the Castletownbere 10km with the now famous weekly Bere Island 5km Park Run. We hope this event will add to the growing interest in the area in what promises to be a most stimulating evening with one of Cork's most unassuming sporing luminaries.

This years road race will be raising funds for the proposed extension to the Eyeries Community Development Meeting Rooms. The talk by Br.Colm will be a free event and your donations on the night towards our designated charity will be most welcome.

Follow us on Facebook: Eyeries Five-Mile
and Twitter : @Eyeries5Mile   for more details.

Eyeries Running Promotions

For more background info, it's worth watching The David Rudisha Story which is about 56 minutes long...

Katie Kirk from Northern Ireland to declare for Ireland

Katie Kirk is a middle distance athlete who has represented  Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 where she ran a personal best of 2:02.63 in the 800m. With that time only being 13th fastest in the British rankings for 2014, the 21 year old has now confirmed that she will declare for Ireland instead of Great Britain.

Her 2:02.63 time in 2014 would have been the 3rd fastest in the Irish rankings for that year. Rose-Anne Galligan and Laura Crowe were faster with 2:02.07 and 2:02.24 respectively.

Her PB would also put her in 9th place on the all time Irish list but at just 21 years old, her best times are yet to come. Once her passport is sorted out, she plans to take part in the European U23 championships next summer.

Mark English of Ireland wins European Bronze in Zurich

At the European Athletic Championships in Zurich this evening, Mark English from Donegal finished 3rd in the mens 800m final to take a bronze medal. It really was a magnificent performance from the 21 year old.

Here is the race video....


Here is a post race interview with Mark English from Will Downing...


What a great talent......and still only 21 years old.

Photo from James Veale of West Waterford AC

100 Seconds to Beat the World: The David Rudisha Story

This is the story of the 800m Olympic champion David Rudisha who is coached by Br.Colm O'Connell from Mallow. It was shown recently on BBC4.

Watch it sooner rather than later as it may disappear off YouTube..

Tony Kelleher of Togher AC breaks Irish Masters record again

Back on the 15th of June, Tony Kelleher of Togher AC set a new Irish Masters record in the Over 45 category when he ran an 800m track race at the Munster Senior & Masters Track & Field Championships in Cork in 2m 00.03s.

As you can see from the results, he was just three one-hundredths of a second over the two minute barrier.

The previous record to that was held by Ken Deevey from Kilkenny who ran 2:01.57 at the World Masters Championships in San Sebastien, Spain back in 2005.

Tony was in action again this evening...Fri 11th of July...at the Morton Games in Dublin. In one of the 800m races, he finished in a time of 1m 59.34 to break his own masters record..

Well done Tony!

Tony Kelleher of Togher AC sets new Irish 800m Masters record...

A ne Irish record was set at the Munster Senior & Masters Track and Field Championships at the CIT track in Bishopstown today. In the mens 800m, Tony Kelleher of Togher AC finished in a time of 2m 00.03s to set a new national Over 45 record.

The previous record was held by Ken Deevey from Kilkenny who ran 2:01.57 at the World Masters Championships in San Sebastien, Spain back in 2005.

Having previously broken the 2 minute barrier on several occasions, no doubt Tony will be seeking to break his new record again.

Irish 800m record holder Rose-Anne Galligan runs 2:02.42 in Doha..

One of the IAAF Diamond League competitions was held last night in Doha (Fri 9th May 2014). The Irish 800m record holder Rose-Anne Galligan was in action in the womens 800m race and she finished in 10th place with a time of 2:02.42. Her personal best and Irish record is 2:00.58 which she set in July 2013.

1 SUM Eunice Jepkoech KEN 1:59.33 WL
2 PRICE Chanelle USA 1:59.75 PB
3 MASNÁ Lenka CZE 2:00.20
4 JEPKOSGEI Janeth KEN 2:00.49 SB
5 BECKWITH Molly USA 2:00.55
6 LUKA Tintu IND 2:00.56
7 MEADOWS Jennifer GBR 2:00.91
8 ALMANZA Rose Mary CUB 2:00.91
9 OSKAN Shelayna GBR 2:01.94 PB
10 GALLIGAN Rose-Anne IRL 2:02.42

Rose-Anne is in the black and white gear at the back of the group after about 100m...

Laura Crowe & Mark Hanrahan in track races in New Zealand

Over the weekend, both Laura Crowe of An Riocht AC and Mark Hanrahan from Leevale AC were in action at the International Track Meet in Christchurch, New Zealand.

2014 International  Track Meeting - 22/02/2014  Rawhiti Domain & Christs College Upper Field         
Women 800 Metre Run                                                    
  1 Angela Smit               SR CANU                   2:07.52
  2 Laura Crowe                  Ireland                2:08.23
  3 Nikki Hamblin                Auckland               2:09.47
  4 Ariana Harper                Wellington             2:15.42
  5 Flora Brocherie           SR CANU                   2:16.64
  6 Pippa Trevella            19 CANU                   2:17.39

2014 International  Track Meeting - 22/02/2014  Rawhiti Domain & Christs College Upper Field         
Men 3000 Metre Run NZ Champs                                                 
  1 Ben St Lawrence              Australia              8:03.02
  2 Mark Hanrahan                Ireland                8:20.77
  3 Daniel Balchin            SR NBOL                   8:22.19
  4 Callan Moody              SR NBOL                   8:30.00
  5 Hamish Carson                Wellington             8:32.47
  6 Jonathan Jackson             Auckland               8:34.51
  7 Matt Harris                  Wellington             8:37.50
  8 Evan Cooper                  Wellington             8:38.22
  9 Rowan Hooper                 Wellington             8:43.83
 10 Craig Eustace             40 Christchurch Avon      8:49.72
 11 Stephen Lett                 Auckland               8:51.14
 12 Ben Musson                19 Papanui Toc H          8:52.71
 13 Tony Payne                   Auckland               8:54.88
 14 Cameron Avery             17 Christchurch Avon      9:07.91
 15 Dallas Wichman            SR Sumner                 9:13.37
 16 Alexander Gorrie          SR CANU                   9:16.39

Strangely enough, it seems as if all the races were held on a grass track. I presume the softer surface might make times a little bit slower??

1972 Olympic mens 800m final

Munich Olympics, Germany 1972. The mens 800m final. Watch the guy with the white hat...

Irish international Mark English wins 800m in Sweden

At the indoor XL Galan games in Sweden on Thursday evening the 6th of February, the 800m Irish record holder Mark English won one of the two 800m races in a time of 1:47.69. Although it was the weaker of the two races, Mark's time came just days after he broke the Irish record by running 1:46.82 last weekend.

Irish athletes qualify for World Indoor Championships...

The Athletics Ireland Open Games were held at the new indoor track in Athlone over the weekend with two Irish athletes qualifying for the World Indoor Championships in Poland in early March.

In the mens 800m, Mark English (UCD AC) set a new Irish Men’s Senior Indoor Record of 1:46.82. The previous record of 1:47.21 which was held by Daniel Caulfield has stood for 13 years. This time was also inside the qualification time of 1:47.00 for the World Indoors. Mark who is just 20 years old also set a new U23 Irish Indoor record in the process.

Mark English #239 on the way to setting a new Irish indoor record...Pic : Kieran Carlin of Finn Valley AC

800 metre Sen Men International
1 KUPERS Thijem        Holland        1:46.78   
2 ENGLISH Mark        U.C.D. A.C.        1:46.82   
3 RODRIGUEZ Alex        Spain        1:48.05   

In a post race interview, Mark English said....“I had it in the back of my head that I wanted to run the World Indoor standard, I obviously got an Irish Record along with that, so that was a huge bonus to get that too. I’m coming away from here with a lot learnt and I’m very happy with that performance.”

Coach Chris Jones with David McCarthy

In the 1500m, David McCarthy of West Waterford AC finished in a time of 3:39.14, inside the World Indoor Standard of 3:41.00. He has already ran the qualifying time for the 3000m.

1500 meter Sen Men International
1 HOUOLUSA Jakub        CZE        3:38.79   
2 David McCarthy        West Waterford    Sen    3:39.14   
3 COGHLAN John        Metro/St. Brigid's A.C.        3:43.31   

Speaking after the race he said: “It was good. I ran in Vienna on Wednesday night and I ran 3:42 and it felt so tough and rough because the race was so crowded I was being pushed all over the place – all my energy was taking up trying to stay on my feet. The target for today was just to run fast and keep my energy for racing”

Some of the Cork results...

60 metre Sen Women
1 FOSTER Amy        City of Lisburn AC        7.40  
2 HEALY Phil        Bandon A.C.        7.43    
3 MCMANUS Catherine        Celtic DCH A.C.        7.59  
4 NIAMH Whelan        Ferrybank A.C.        7.62  
5 HEALY Joan        Bandon A.C.        7.65

800 metre Sen Women
1 FURLONG Brona        Slaney Olympic A.C.        2:13.60   
2 RAFTER Eileen        Tullamore Harriers A.C.        2:16.06   
3 O'SHEA Rachael        West Muskerry A.C.        2:16.11   

60m Hurdles 0,84m Sen Women
1 MCMANUS Catherine        Celtic DCH A.C.        8.64   
2   DUBO Orlane        Galway City Harriers A.C.        9.73   
3   HOWARD Roisin        Bandon A.C.        9.95   

Shot Put 4,000kg Sen Women
Pos    ID    Name    PB    Team    Cat    Result    Rank    1    2    3    4    5    6
MESLOH Sarah        Ballon Rathoe A.C.        13.00    1    13.00    12.68    12.70     X           
DALY Shauna        St. Abbans A.C.        10.50    2    10.06    10.02    10.50    10.29           
HOWARD Roisin        Bandon A.C.        10.33    3    9.69    10.33    9.82     X           
   
Long Jump Sen Men
Name    PB    Team    Cat    Result    Rank    1    2    3    4    5    6
MCMULLEN Adam        Crusaders A.C.        7.28    1    7.15    6.91    7.28    7.21           
GUILLON Benjamin    Leevale A.C.        7.09    2    7.04     X     X    7.09           
FAHEY Eamonn        Donore Harriers        6.76    3     X    6.56    6.73    6.76  

Full results HERE

Irish athletics round up from the weekend...Sat 18th & Sun 19th Jan 2014

Sun 19th...At the Reykjavik International Games in Iceland, Rose-Anne Galligan of Ireland finished in second place in the womens indoor 800m in a time of 2:03:69. This was just outside the 2:03:00 needed to qualify for the World Indoor Track and Field Championships which takes place in Sopot Poland in March.

Rose-Anne has a personal best of 2:00.58 for 800m outdoors which she set in London last July.

800 m   
Athletes    Nationality    Date    Time   
1    Aníta Hinriksdóttir    ISL    13 Jan 96    2:01.81
2    Rose-Anne Galligan    IRL    9 Dec 87    2:03.69
3    Aline Krebs    GER    5 Sep 88    2:06.24

Video of the race HERE

Sun 19th...At the Munster Indoor Athletic Championships in Nenagh, Co.Tipperary, Sinead O'Connor of Leevale AC won the womens 3000m in a time of 10:18.10. James Grufferty of Leevale AC won the mens 3000m title in a time of 9:04.93.

The track results are HERE and the field results are HERE

Sat 18th Jan...At the Hunter Track Classic in Glendale, Australia, several Irish athletes were in action.

In the mens 3,000m, Paul Robinson of St.Coca's AC finished second while Mark Hanrahan of Leevale AC finished fourth.

Hunter Track Classic 2014 - 18/01/2014. Athletics Australia National Series. Hunter Sports Centre, Glendale                    
Men 3000 Metre Run
  1 Batt, Kevin               23 Nsw                    7:57.11       
  2 Robinson, Paul            23 Ireland                7:58.56       
  3 Wright, Joshua            23 Nswis                  8:05.13       
  4 Hanrahan, Mark            29 Ireland                8:05.73       
  5 Saunders, Philo           38 Act                    8:09.40       
  6 Hansen, James             21 Nsw                    8:11.38       
  7 Fawthorpe, Tom            24 Vic                    8:17.78       
  8 McDonald, Morgan          18 Nsw                    8:20.21       
  9 Hunter, Charlie           18 Nswis                  8:20.34       
 10 Connor, James             22 Nsw                    8:21.46       
 11 Cox, Matthew              24 Nsw                    8:22.42       
 12 Roeger, Michael           26 Sasi                   8:24.53       
 13 Gebreselassie, Dejen      21 Nsw                    8:39.20       
 14 Walters, Guy              20 Nsw                    8:40.49       
 15 Williams, Hugh            22 Nsw                    8:40.85  

In the womens 1500m, Laura Crowe of An Riocht AC finished in third spot in a time of 4:11.49, an improvement on her previous personal best of 4:12.06 which was set in Italy last September.
Women 1500 Metre Run
  1 McKnight, Kaila     28 Vis                    4:09.87 CGB         
  2 Duncan, Melissa     24 Vic                    4:09.98 CGB         
  3 Crowe, Laura        27 Ireland                4:11.49             
  4 Hetherington, Kell  25 Vis                    4:14.11             
  5 Laman, Anna         19 Nsw                    4:19.55             
  6 Wellings, Eliose    32 Nsw                    4:22.23             
  7 Delaney, Bridey     25 Nsw                    4:22.81             
  8 Powell, Courtney    19 Vic                    4:23.39             
  9 Powell, Laura       15 Vic                    4:24.99             
 10 Davies, Rose        15 Nsw                    4:31.52             
 11 Lord, Arianna       17 Nzl                    4:31.68             
 12 Augustine, Emily    17 Nsw                    4:33.17             
 13 Witchard, Melinda   28 Nsw                    4:36.42

Sat 18th Jan...At the guest mile at the Athlone indoor track, John Travers of Donore Harriers can close to the 4 minute mark.

Place Heat Posn Elite Mile Club Time
1 F 1 John Travers Donore Harriers AC / AIT AC 4:01.47
2 F 2 Danny Mooney Letterkenny AC 4:02.88
3 F 3 Joe Warne Doheny AC / DCU AC 4:04.06
4 F 4 John Coghlan MSB AC / DCU AC 4:10.65
5 F 5 Emmet Dunleavy Sligo AC 4:12.10
6 F 6 Richard Owens Sli Cualainn AC / UCD AC 4:13.97
7 F 7 Kevin Kelly St. Coca’s 4:26.46

Race video...

Sat 18th Jan...At the Scottish Open Athletics indoor meet in Glasgow, Kelly Proper of Ferrybank AC ran 24:01 in the 200m, not far outside her PB of 23:58. In the Long Jump, Kelly jumped 6.26 metres.

200m...2 24.01 Kelly Proper SEN    W Ferrybank/Ireland 23.58

LJ...1 6.26 Kelly Proper     SEN    W Ferrybank/Ireland 6.48

Irish athletes Paul Robinson, Mark Englsh and Laura Crowe in European races this weekend

On Friday evening the 6th of September, Paul Robinson finished 3rd in the mens 'B' 800m race at the Diamond League meeting in Brussels, Belgium. His time of 1:46.06 was only 0.2 seconds his personal best.

800m B race in Brussels
1 JOHNSON Brandon USA 1:45.45
2 CRONJE Johan RSA 1:45.85
3 ROBINSON Paul IRL 1:46.06
4 RIMMER Michael GBR 1:46.19
5 MANZANO Leonel USA 1:46.31
6 JAMAA Samir MAR 1:46.70
7 BENEDETTI Giordano ITA 1:48.15
8 VAN DEN BROECK Jan BEL 1:49.43
9 BALHAN Pierre BEL 1:50.30

On Sunday the 8th of September at the IAAF Challenge in Rieti, Italy, both Paul Robinson and Mark English were in action. In the mens 800m race, Mark English finished 4th in an impressive time of 1:44.89, just five one-hundredths of a second slower than his personal best.

Rieti IAAF World Challenge (ITA)...07-08.09.2013 - B
800m MEN :
1.    Musaeb Abdulrahman BALLA    (QAT    )    1:43.93 PB
2.    Edwin Kiplagat MELI    (KEN)     1:44.49    SB
3.    Brandon JOHNSON    (USA)     1:44.55   
4.    Mark ENGLISH    (IRL)     1:44.89   
5.    Tamás KAZI    (HUN)     1:45.37    PB
6.    Michael RIMMER    (GBR)     1:46.09   
7.    James EICHBERGER    (MEX)     1:47.07   

In the mens 1500m race, Paul Robinson set a new personal best time of 3:35.22. This was over 2 seconds faster than his previous best of 3:37.66 which was set in Belfast last June. That is a huge jump in terms of performance which moves Paul from 16th to 6th on the Irish all time list. Just to put it in perspective, Eamonn Coghlan is now 8th on that list.

1500m MEN :
1.    Silas KIPLAGAT    (KEN)     3:30.13    SB
2.    Johan CRONJE    (RSA)     3:31.93    PB
3.    Mohamed MOUSTAOUI    (MAR    )    3:32.08    SB
4.    Nick WILLIS    (NZL)     3:32.57    SB
5.    Augustine Kiprono CHOGE    (KEN)     3:33.21    SB
6.    David TORRENCE    (USA)     3:33.23    PB
7.    Krzysztof ŻEBROWSKI    (POL)     3:35.07    PB
8.    Paul ROBINSON    (IRL)     3:35.22    PB
9.    Zane ROBERTSON    (NZL)     3:35.45    PB
10.    Jonathan Kiplimo SAWE    (KEN)     3:40.83   
11.    Abdellah HAIDANE    (ITA)     3:41.96    SB
12.    Miles BATTY    (USA)     3:45.75   
13.    Leonel MANZANO    (USA)     3:48.83    

In the womens 800m race, Laura Crowe of An Ríocht AC set a new personal best time of 2:00.93, a big jump up from her previous best time of 2:02.63 which was set in Dublin in July. This new time now moves Laura from 8th to 4th on the Irish all time list.

  
800m WOMEN :
1.    Caster SEMENYA    (RSA)     1:58.92    SB
2.    Nelly JEPKOSGEI    (KEN)     1:59.40    PB
3.    Nataliya LUPU    (UKR)     1:59.52   
4.    Hannah ENGLAND    (GBR)     2:00.39    SB
5.    Zoe BUCKMAN    (AUS)     2:00.93    PB
6.    Laura CROWE    (IRL)     2:00.93    PB
7.    Anna ROSTKOWSKA    (POL)     2:01.34    SB
8.    Renata PLIŚ    (POL)     2:01.48    SB
9.    Mary KURIA    (KEN)     2:01.90   
10.    Lea WALLACE    (USA)     2:03.13     

With the track season now coming to a close, Both Laura Crowe and Rose-Ann Galligan have both come with a second of breaking the two minute barrier. Will 2014 be the year when the first Irish woman goes sub two??

Interview with top Irish 800m athlete Mark English

Mark English is one of the best athletes in the country and currently is the second fastest Irish man ever over 800 metres. His best time of 1:44.84 seconds which he set last month in London is just two one-hundredths of a second behind the current Irish record of 1:44.82. Considering that Mark is just 20 years old, it is surely only a matter of time before he breaks that record.

His performance last month was also inside the qualifying standard for the World Championships in Moscow which start next Saturday. He is due to race in the heats of the 800m at 8:20am that morning.

In the interview below with the Second Captains sports programme, Mark discusses his career, his realistic chances in the World Championships and his plans for the future.

Just click on the sound display and go forward to the start of the interview which starts at 56:30 and lasts until 1:09.00