European Indoor Athletics Championships In Prague

Mark English One of Four to Make Semi-Final Stage on Positive Day One for the Irish at European Indoor Athletics Championships in Prague

European Outdoor 800m Bronze Medallist Mark English (UCD AC) was one of four Irish athletes to make the semi-final stage on a positive day one of action at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Prague. The Donegal man made qualification into tomorrow's semi-final (17.25 Irish Time) look easy winning in 1.48.10. Despite settling at the back of the field he moved his way up to leaders with ease to time his kick past the leaders nicely with 100m to go, coasting down the home straight in confident style to record the fastest time of all qualifiers. He will be joined by Declan Murray (Clonliffe Harriers) who finished second in his heat in 1.49.69 to also gain an automatic qualification spot.

Ciara Everard (UCD AC) also made the cut, producing a season's best of 2.02.54 to finish third in her 800m heat, just off her Irish Records of 2.02.54. The time was quick enough to secure a fastest qualification spot into tomorrow's semi-final at 17.00 and her time ranks her seventh overall with six spots in the final up for grabs.

Dara Kervick (Clonlfife Harriers AC) won his 400m Heat in the morning session, commanding from start to finish crossing the line in 47.06 to ensure a spot in the semi-final and an outside lane. In the semi-final he produced his 3rd fastest time ever of 46.96 to finish 4th. His time was the 7th fastest overall in the semi-finals, a very solid performance in his first major senior champs and no doubt more to come from him.

Earlier in the morning in his first major championships Leitrim's Gerard O'Donnell (Carrick On Suir AC) finished sixth in Heat one of the 60m Hurdles in 8.06 seconds. Despite losing technique and clipping hurdles, he recorded his 4th fastest time over the distance but it wasn't good enough to progress to semi-finals. A personal best performance of 7.73 would have guaranteed him a spot in the semi-final.

While Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders AC) put himself in the mix in the opening laps of the Men's 3k but faded as to the back of the field as the pace picked up in the closing laps to finish 10th but he did record a personal best of 7:58.78 .

Ireland will have two representatives in the Men's 1500m heats tomorrow with both John Travers (Donore Harriers AC) and Danny Mooney (Letterkenny AC) on the track at 10.50am (Irish Time).