The Daily Star Ireland
Cian McPhillips produced the performance of his career in Tokyo, smashing the Irish 800m record to qualify for the final at the World Athletics Championships.
The Longford middle-distance runner stormed to victory in the second of three semi-finals at Japan’s National Stadium, crossing the line in 1:43.18. His time not only secured a place in Saturday’s final but also lowered the national record set just last month by Mark English, who had clocked 1:43.37 in Hungary.
At the bell, McPhillips was sitting in fifth position in a tightly packed field. Displaying patience and composure, the 23-year-old gradually worked his way up, latching onto the shoulder of Britain’s Max Burgin entering the home straight. From there, McPhillips unleashed a blistering kick, powering past the field to take the win. Burgin finished second to also book his spot in the final.
This performance continues McPhillips’ steady rise on the international stage. A former European Junior champion in 2021, he has now firmly established himself among the world’s elite.
Heartbreak for Mark English
While McPhillips celebrated, it was a disappointing evening for the previous record holder, Mark English. The Donegal athlete ran bravely in his semi-final, making a bold move to seize the lead before the final bend. However, he faded in the closing stages, crossing the line third in 1:45.47—outside the qualifying places.
Canada’s Marco Arop, the reigning world champion, won that heat in 1:45.09, edging out Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, who was credited with the same time. Only the top two in each race qualified automatically, with the remaining slots going to the fastest non-automatic finishers. Unfortunately for English, his time left him just short of the cut-off.
The Wider Field
The third semi-final was equally dramatic. Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui claimed victory in 1:43.18—the exact same time as McPhillips—while Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi took second. Jamaica’s Navasky Anderson and Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela finished third and fourth but advanced to the final as the fastest qualifiers outside the automatic spots.
What’s Next
The men’s 800m final is set for Saturday at 2:20 pm Irish time and will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. All eyes will be on McPhillips as he attempts to convert his record-breaking momentum into a medal on the world stage.
For Irish athletics, his achievement represents both a new milestone and a symbolic passing of the torch—from veteran Mark English to a new standard-bearer in Cian McPhillips.
