TWO OF THE BEST

Irish duo ready to take World Champs chance

- By MICHAEL SCULLY

FOR the first time ever Ireland will have two athletes in the men's 800m semi-finals of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo today.

Mark English was backed to make it there after a stellar season that began with bronze in the European Indoor Championships and continued with the Donegal veteran breaking the national 800m record three times, most recently last month.

The 32-year-old doctor qualified from his heat but, in easing up before the finish line, he let in young Italian Francesco Pernici into second place behind reigning Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya.

Only two of his rivals - Marco Arop of Canada and Djamel Sedjati - have faster PBs.

It's still a stacked field, however, with his semi-final at 1.45pm Irish time - and compatriot Cian McPhillips following him in the second race.

The 23 year old Longford runner was not expected to progress from his heat on his Worlds debut, but won it in impressive style.