Mark English (UCD AC) ran a massive new personal best of 1:44.84 to finish in sixth place in the men’s 800m whilst competing in the diamond league meeting in the London Olympic Stadium in front of capacity 60,000 athletics fans.
English making his debut in the diamond league meetings sat off the early quick pace which saw the leaders go through the bell in 49.54 seconds. English powered down the finishing straight, picking off the world class athletes ahead of him, to finish in sixth place.
The time was only two one hundredths of a second outside David Mathews national record of 1:44.82 and was also an A standard for the IAAF World Championships.
Rose- Anne Galligan (Newbridge AC) set a new national senior record of 2:00.58 to break the old mark held by legendary Irish distance runner Sonia O’Sullivan which stood at 2:00.69. Galligan was Galligan rose to the occasion to finish in a brilliant sixth place and break the 19 year old record held by O’Sullivan. The time was also a B-standard for the IAAF World Championships in Moscow.
