Mark English has won a bronze medal in the final of the 800m at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.
The Letterkenny man ran a superb race to clock a time of 1:45.19 seconds to add to the European bronze medal he won in 2014.
The 29-year-old jostled for position in the early stages, pushing towards the front, and as the bunch came to the bell Spain's Mariano Garcia assumed control.
English tucked in just behind on the inside, with Britain’s Ben Pattison on his shoulder and Jake Wightman lurking behind.
The Irishman was comfortable in his top-three position even when things picked up on the final bend.
Wightman made his move, but Garcia couldn’t be caught and won in a personal best of 1:44.85, with Wightman second in 1:44.91.
Ireland's Mark English has won bronze in the men's 800m final at the European Championships in Munich. #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/lynxnyj4CN
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 21, 2022
"I feel pretty chuffed," English told RTÉ Sport afterwards. "It probably went exactly as I thought it would from an objective point of view, so I'm really happy to come away with a medal.
"I had a feeling that Garcia would make a move at the same point as he did yesterday, so I was looking at the screen waiting for him.
"I could see him making his move and I just moved to the front. I figured if I could slot in behind him on the inside rail the whole way, that would be a good move.
"I was actually quiet goosed out there tonight, it was difficult to hold on, so I was really thankful I came away with a medal."
"I was actually quiet goosed out there tonight, it was difficult to hold on, so I was really thankful I came away with a medal." Mark English reacts to winning bronze at the European Championships. pic.twitter.com/OGc8JpW15N
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 21, 2022
Sarah Lavin finished in an impressive fifth place in the final of the 100m hurdles.
In what was the biggest race of her career so far, Lavin had a tricky lane one draw, but she made solid start off the blocks and belied her status as the lowest ranked runner in the race.
Having set a personal best in the semi-final to secure her place in the final, Lavin was slightly behind that time, finishing in 12.86.
Poland's Pia Krzyszowska stormed home in a time of 12.53 to take the gold medal. Luca Hozak of Hurgary took the silver in 12.69, while the bronze went to Ditaji Kambundji of Switzerland in 12.74.
After posting a personal best in the 100m hurdles semi-finals earlier in the evening, Sarah Lavin finishes a fine fifth in the final at the European Athletics Championships. pic.twitter.com/CbVGlO7BfN
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 21, 2022
"I thought I could find a little bit more in the final," Lavin revealed afterwards. "Of course, you want the medal, it's the only currency any of us speak.
"And yet, if i think back to the start of the year, if you said I'd be fifth in a European final, I'd have to be happy, relatively."
Lavin was left wondering what might have been after clipping the final hurdle, which led to a minor loss of momentum for the strong finisher in the race for the line.
"The medal was just do close tonight," she added. "I could feel it and smell it."
An ebullient Sarah Lavin analyses her performance in 100m hurdles final at the European Athletics Championships, where she finished fifth. pic.twitter.com/Y12HxfmrIx
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 21, 2022
Efrem Gidey ran the race of his life in the final of the 10,000m as he finished sixth in a high-class field.
Gidey crossed the line in 27:59.22 – the quickest he's ever run at that distance – and as a 21-year-old, made a real statement of intent for the future.
Hiko Haso finished in 18th place in 28:38.82.
The gold medal went to Yemaneberhan Crippa on Italy in 27:46.13. Norweigan Zerei Kbrom Mezngi ran a personal best of 27:49.94 to take the silver, while Frenchman Yann Schrub also ran a PB of 27:47.13 for bronze.
Efrem Gidey records a personal best to finish sixth in the 10,000m at the European Athletics Championships, with Ireland team-mate Hiko Tonosa back in 18th. pic.twitter.com/PEH4s6f922
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 21, 2022
"I'm so happy and I'm so grateful for that," Gidey, who only arrived in Ireland from Eritrea in 2017, said of his performance. "That's a big PB for me."
