Mark English withdraws from National Indoor Championships in Athlone

New Irish indoor 800 metres record holder Mark English has withdrawn from this weekend’s National Indoor Championships in Athlone due to illness - although he’s not the only high-profile absentee.

English was originally intent on competing at the Birmingham International tomorrow, before returning to Athlone on Sunday to defend the national indoor 800m title he won last year: however, a respiratory infection has forced his withdrawal, and he’ll focus instead on recovering in time for next month’s World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland, having qualified thanks to his recent Irish record of 1.46.82.

World 50km walk champion Rob Heffernan has often used the National Indoor Championships to break up his winter training, although he’ll be absent too, and for good reason: Heffernan left for New York yesterday having being invited to take part in a special indoor walk mile as part of tomorrow’s Millrose Games.

Athlone has still attracted the cream of domestic competition, with around 330 entries, a select few of whom are also looking to secure qualifying times for Sopot. Amy Foster is just .01 off the 60m qualifying time, having run 7.33 last weekend, but faces tough competition from the likes of Phil Healy.

The men’s 60m also promises to electric as David Hynes, the number one ranked Irish athlete this season with 6.81 seconds, takes on Steven Colvert and youngsters Keith Doherty and Marcus Lawler.

Kelly Proper is down to compete over 60m, 200m, and long jump, while Sarah Lavin should have no trouble winning the 60m hurdles. David McCarthy leads the entries in the men’s 1500m, and after running 3:39.14 already this season, will take some beating. Sunday’s finals go out live on RTE from 3pm.