MARK ENGLISH FINISHED in second place in his season-opener in Germany this evening.
In the 800m at the PSD Bank Meeting in Düsseldorf, an indoor meeting, English was second in the B race, finishing just behind Qatar’s Musaeb Balla.
English finished in 1:47.28, with Balla winning the race in 1:46.79.
The pace was quite hot from the start and at the bell English made a move. As they went down the straight, it was between English and Balla, but Balla had the edge.
English returned from Stellenbosch in South Africa on Friday evening having been on a training camp.
The Letterkenny man, who now runs under UCD AC’s banner, was beginning a big year this evening as he pushes the button on his preparations for the Olympic Games in Rio in August.
Adam Kszczot from Poland won the A race in 1:46.00, with Frenchman Piere-Ambroise Bosse second in 1:46.79, a personal best, and Eric Sowinski of America in third.
English’s time was the fourth fastest of the 800m races.
English was named as Donegal Sports Star of the Year for 2015 on Friday night, the second year in a row he scooped the top accoldate.
Last March, he was the silver medallist in the 800m at the IAAF European Indoor Athletics Championships in Prague having won a bronze at the European Athletics Championships the previous August in Zurich.
Last July, in a world-class field, he finished in fourth place behind Nigel Amos, world record holder David Rudisha and Kszczot at the Anniversary Games.
It was at that meeting in London where he ran an Olympic qualifying time, finishing in 1:45.49
