Strong Irish Performances in Rome as English and Healy Impress, Gillespie Makes Cycling History
Mark English Continues Fine Form with Season’s Best in Rome
Mark English delivered one of the performances of the night at the Rome Diamond League, finishing second in a high-quality men’s 800m field.
The Donegal athlete clocked a season’s best time of 1:43.80, his second fastest ever over the distance, as he closed strongly in the final metres to challenge for victory.
France’s Gabriel Tual narrowly held on to take the win in 1:43.66, just 0.14 seconds ahead of English in a thrilling finish at the Stadio Olimpico.
English’s trademark late surge once again proved decisive in securing a podium position, reinforcing his consistency at the highest level and his strong form early in the outdoor season.
Historic Milestone for Lara Gillespie in Grand Tour Cycling
Away from the track, Lara Gillespie has made history in cycling, becoming the first Irish woman to complete all three of the sport’s Grand Tours – the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta España.
The UAE Team ADQ rider achieved the feat after finishing her debut Giro d’Italia Women in Saluzzo, marking another major landmark in her rapidly developing career.
Gillespie enjoyed a strong race overall, including a fourth-place finish in the points classification, highlighting her consistency across the stages.
Her achievement represents a significant moment for Irish cycling, placing her among a select group of riders to have completed the sport’s most demanding stage races and further strengthening Ireland’s growing presence in elite women’s cycling.
Sarah Healy Achieves Personal Best and European Qualification
There was further encouragement for Irish athletics in the women’s 5000m, where Sarah Healy produced a superb performance in her first race of the year.
Healy finished 17th in a highly competitive field but delivered a personal best time of 14:48.88.
The mark moves her to second on the Irish all-time list, sitting between Olympian Sonia O’Sullivan and Catherina McKiernan, and underlines her continued progression on the track.
Importantly, the performance also secured automatic qualification for the upcoming European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, providing a strong platform for the season ahead.
While the race was dominated by Ethiopian athletes at the front, Healy’s time stands out as one of the most significant Irish middle and long-distance performances of the year so far.