In-form Mark English runs season's best ahead of European indoors in Istanbul

Mark English continued his strong form ahead of next week's European Indoor Championships with a season's best run to win in Madrid last night.

English, a two-time medallist at the European indoors, is the leading Irish medal hope ahead of the championships in Istanbul (March 2-5).

The 16-strong Irish team will be without both Ciara Mageean and Sarah Healy, both returning from injury, while Rhasidat Adeleke is remaining in the US, where the NCAA championships are her focus.

Israel Olatunde, however, who smashed the longstanding Irish indoor 60m record in Abbotstown last week, will be in Istanbul, with a strong chance of reaching a final.

Between a very calm unfussy performance in winning his 17th national 800m senior title (9th indoors) last Sunday & this controlled unruffled B race win at the World Indoor Tour Gold meet in Madrid tonight, Mark English looks in a good place at a good time. Euro Indoors next week. https://t.co/hNaqn4omGO

In the Spanish capital last night, English, who claimed his 17th national title at 800m last Sunday, ran 1:46.57 in a comfortable victory at the World Indoor Tour Gold meeting.

In addition to matching his season's best, the time equals the second fastest indoor run of English's career.

English, who is a month shy of his 30th birthday, has medalled twice before in the 800m at the European indoors, taking silver in Prague in 2015 and bronze in Glasgow in 2019.

Also in Madrid last night, Limerick sprinter Sarah Lavin posted a personal best of 7.95 to qualify for the 60m hurdles final.

Men

60m: Israel Olatunde (UCD); 800m: Mark English (UCD), John Fitzsimons (Kildare); 1,500m: Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea), Luke McCann (UCD); 3,000m: Darragh McElhinney (UCD).

Women

60m: Molly Scott (St L