Faster, fitter, and a whole lot healthier, Mark English has every reason to believe once again. Ten days out from the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow, the Donegal athlete has returned to the kind of form that saw him win a silver medal at the 2015 edition — and he believes a repeat showing could be on the cards.

Ciara Neville (Emerald) kept her cool to clinch gold after a poor start in the women’s 60m while Phil Healy (Bandon) secured the European standard for the 400m on a weekend full of back stories and close finishes at the Irish Life Health National Indoor Championships in Abbotstown, Dublin.

Ciara Neville’s life in the fast lane seemed to be running on fumes long before the Castletroy teenager had even gotten into top gear but a hard edge and support now sees her on the cusp of her first senior international championship.