Adam McMullen as unable to qualify for the men’s long jump final at the European Indoors in Prague.

Mark English delivered on his huge potential with a fearless finishing sprint down the home straight in the European Athletics Championships at a packed Letzigrund arena last night to capture bronze in the 800m in 1:45.03.

Robert Heffernan will face a stiff challenge to win the European 50km race walk title on the streets of Zurich this morning but his wife and coach, Marian, believes he’s in as good a shape as ever.

It was a case of relief with Mark English qualifying for the final of the men’s 800m as a fastest loser in 1:46.23 at the Letzigrund Stadium last night while Thomas Barr unfortunately couldn’t replicate that in the 400m hurdles.

Mark English put in a classy performance to win heat two of the men’s 800m in 1:47.38 on a positive day for the Irish athletes at the European Track and Field Championships in Zurich.

It was a notable weekend for Irish athletics with Thomas Barr and Mark English enjoying the perfect build-up to the European Championships with some stunning displays.

The United States finished top of the medals table at the World Indoors in Sopot, rounding off the Games in suitably emphatic style by claiming the week’s only world record, in the men’s 4x400m relay.

Mark English and Paul Robinson start a new era for Irish middle-distance running this morning in the heats of the 800m on the opening day of the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow.

France’s Teddy Tamgho today improved his own world record in the triple jump on his way to victory in the European Indoor Championships in Paris.

JUST when Irish spirits needed a lift at the European championships in Paris yesterday, young Darren McBrearty stepped up with one of the most courageous performances of the afternoon to claim his place in today’s semi-finals of the men’s 800m.

FOUR athletes made it through to their respective finals and two athletes - Linda Byrne in the steeplechase and Breffni Twohig in the 5,000m - set new national junior records on a great day for the Irish at the European Junior Track and Field Championships in Kaunas yesterday.