MARK ENGLISH IS AIMING for a ‘higher tempo’ finish this afternoon when he competes in the men’s 800m at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix.
The Letterkenny man has had a positive start to 2016.
After finishing second in a time of 1:47/28 to Qatar’s Musaeb Balla at the PSD Bank Meeting in Düsseldorf, Germany, English won a 500m event in Stockholm on Wednesday evening.
English took victory ahead of American Erik Sowinski in 60.93 seconds at the Globen Galen, a time that is a new Irish record for the scarcely run distance.
“I’m very pleased to have run 60 seconds in my second outing this year,” said English.
“With some more competition I think I can break 60 seconds. It was great fun .I’d also love to give the 600m a shot at some point.”
He’s back in his speciality, the 800m, today at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow with a field that includes Sowinski, 2015 World silver medallist Adam Kszczot, 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Timothy Kitum and 2010 Europea silver medallist Michael Rimmer.
English said: “My plan now is to keep a higher tempo over the second and third laps in Glasgow.
“In an 800m race, what kills the athlete running a fast time is slowing down and then speeding up again. If you go out hard, I think it’s better just to keep on going and suffer at the end.
“I’m very pleased with where I’m at at the moment.”
The 800m is scheduled for 1.30pm and the meet will be televised on BBC One.
