Irish runner Mark English breaks European championships record in 800 meters
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Irish middle-distance runner Mark English shattered a long-standing European championships record in the 800 meters on Wednesday. English clocked in at 1 minute, 43.49 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 1:43.84 set by Olaf Beyer in 1978 in Prague. The 33-year-old English, a two-time bronze medalist at the European championships, expressed his excitement about breaking the record but also acknowledged the presence of talented competitors in the upcoming final.
Beyer, representing East Germany, had previously upset British stars Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe to win the title 48 years ago. English received support from a significant Irish fan base at Alexander Stadium, with tickets sold to Irish fans comprising nearly 15 percent of the total attendance.
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