Breaking: Mark English qualifies for Olympic Games with new Irish record

Mark English has qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games – and lowered his Irish 800m record in the process.

The Finn Valley AC athlete clocked 1:44.69 at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland.

English finished superbly Paavo Nurmi Stadium, taking 0.02 seconds off his previous Irish record.

English dipped in ahead of Benjamin Robert from France and Spaniard Adrian Ben for second in the race.

Sweden's Andreas Kramer won the race, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold level meet, in 1:44.65.

Out of lane 5, English continued his encouraging runs of late and beat the automatic qualifying time (1:44.70) for the Olympic Games in Paris.

Previously, the Letterkenny native competed at the 2016 and 2021 editions of the Olympic Games.

In qualifying for the last Olympics in Tokyo, English broke David Matthews' long-standing Irish record when running in Castellon, Spain.

Now, the 31-year-old doctor, who has taken a break from working in the medical profession to concentrate on his Olympic bid has had that decision vindicated.

At the recent European Athletics Championships in Rome, English bowed out in the 800m heats.

English was fifth in his heat, going through in 1:46.73 at the Stadio Olimpico.

The four-time European medallist won the 800m at the IX Memorial José Antonio Cansino meeting in Castellón in 1:45.85 last month.

A week later, at the Bislett Games in Oslo, English clocked 1:44.95.