European Indoor Championships: Mark English forced to withdraw due to illness
Fiachra Gallagher
Mark English has been forced to pull out of the European Indoors Athletics Championships in Istanbul.
The two-time Indoor European medallist has been ruled out through illness.
In statement, English said: “I came here in great shape, but unfortunately I’m not in a position to do myself justice.”
John Fitzsimons, of Co Kildare, finished forth in his round 1 heat for the 800 metre event. A time of 1 minute 49.36 seconds wasn't enough for him to qualify for Saturday's semi-final.
Later on Thursday evening, Star of the Sea AC athlete Andrew Coscoran and UCD's Luke McCann will both contest round 1 of the 1,500 metre event.
Coscoran set a new 1,500 metre Irish record last month, completing a race in Birmingham with a time of 3 minutes, 33.49 seconds.
McCann finished the same event with a time of 3 minutes 34.76 seconds.