"McPhillips, 23, had been ultra impressive in his heat but few expected him to contend for the win in his semi-final, given the calibre of opposition, but the Longford man was class personified as he eased to the front on the final bend and kicked clear down the home straight, taking victory ahead of Britain's Max Burgin (1:43.37) and USA's former world champion Donavan Brazier (1:43.82)."
"His time, which was run amid steady rainfall in Tokyo, breaks the 1:43.37 national record that English set in Budapest. For English, there was more frustration on the global stage as he again came up just shy of a world final. The final will take place on Saturday at 2.22pm Irish time, with McPhillips a live threat for a medal."
McPhillips, 23, won his 800m semi-final in Tokyo and broke the Irish national record previously set at 1:43.37. The victory came in steady rainfall and saw McPhillips finish ahead of Max Burgin and former world champion Donavan Brazier. Mark English finished third in his semi in 1:45.47 and did not advance as a non-automatic qualifier. In English's race, Marco Arop and Djamel Sedjati ran 1:45.09, with Arop towing the field through 400m in about 52 seconds. English moved into the lead with half a lap to go but was passed and held on for third. The 800m final is scheduled for Saturday at 2.22pm Irish time, with McPhillips a strong medal threat.
Read at Irish Independent
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