English breaks 48-year-old European 800m championship record — image accompanying Athletics Weekly's report. Image accompanying Athletics Weekly’s report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Mark English of Ireland set a new European 800m championship record, clocking 1:43.49 in the semi-finals. The previous record of 1:43.84 was held by Olaf Beyer since 1978. English's time surpassed Beyer's legendary mark from Prague.
English, 33, has been in peak form this season, achieving a lifetime best of 1:42.97 in London. His semi-final win secured a spot in Thursday's final. Ben Pattison of Britain also qualified, finishing second in 1:43.72. Read more racing coverage.
Max Burgin, the European No.1 this year, qualified despite a challenging season. Burgin won his semi-final in 1:44.73, adapting his strategy due to fitness concerns. The final promises to be highly competitive, with English, Burgin, and Pattison all advancing. Related: Hodgkinson Second Favorite for 800m Gold in Birmingham.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Athletics Weekly. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
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What should runners know about English breaks 48-year-old European 800m championship record?
Irish runner Mark English shatters Olaf Beyer's longstanding record in Birmingham Mark English of Ireland set a new European 800m championship record, clocking 1:43.49 in the semi-finals. The previous record of 1:43.84 was held by Olaf Beyer since 1978. English's time surpassed Beyer's legendary mark from Prague.
When did Runner World publish this racing brief?
Runner World published this brief on August 12, 2026. The underlying Athletics Weekly report was dated August 12, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Athletics Weekly. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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