Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BRONZE BONANZA
Glasgow medals for Ciara & Mark
MARK ENGLISH and Ciara Mageean made it the bronze age for Ireland in Glasgow last night as they picked up European Indoor Championship medals.
English, 25, capped his return from an injury-hit four years by claiming his third European medal in the men’s 800m in 1.47.39.
Later, Co Down woman Mageean took inspiration from English’s run to claim a podium place and a second career European medal.
English, who claimed silver in Prague in the European indoors in 2015, capitalised on the second chance he was given.
He had finished fifth in the semifinal but qualified for the final ‘by referee’ due to a collision.
The Letterkenny man held off several challenges to take bronze behind Spain’s Alvaro de Arriba and Britain’s Jamie Webb. “It’s really, really nice to come back and get a medal after four years,” beamed English. “That’s the nature of this game, you’ve got to stick at it.
“You’re not going to win something every year but it’s a lesson for any young athlete out there – it’s worth it when you get the good times.
“There were moves being made throughout the race which interfered with the rhythm a bit but I think I held it well and managed to come away with the medal today.
“It gives me a lot of confidence that the training I’ve been doing has actually been working.”
Mageean, 26, capped a night to remember by claiming third place in the 1500m in a time of 4.09.43 behind Britain’s Laura Muir and Poland’s Sofia Ennaaoui.
She beamed: “I’m delighted to bring this medal back to Ireland, to Portaferry. My athletics career will be tough and the lows will be low but my goodness the highs are high.”