English sprints to second in Rome as Healy returns to action

Mark English clocked 1:43.80 in Rome. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Mark English continued his fine early-season form with a second-place finish over 800m at the Rome Diamond League on Thursday night, the 33-year-old Donegal athlete clocking 1:43.80.

That was the second quickest time of English’s career behind the 1:43.37 he ran in Budapest last year. English sat off the pace over the opening 400m, reached by the pacer in 50.02, but he powered into contention around the last bend and finished close behind France’s Gabriel Tual, who won in 1:43.66.