Enniskillen athlete Mark Hoy has started his racing season in great form by breaking the 1 minute 50 seconds barrier for the 800m for the first time.

Enniskillen athlete Mark Hoy has started his racing season in great form by breaking the 1 minute 50 seconds barrier for the 800m for the first time.

Hoy achieved this important milestone in his burgeoning track career during the Irish Milers Club event at the Mary Peters Track on Saturday. Mark took part in the 800m race and was joined by two athletes from the British Milers Club.

He ran well and took the lead with 250m to go as the pace started to drop and injected his own pace. He was pursued by the two British Milers who sheltered in behind from the wind and with 80m to go the duo came alongside Hoy before pipping him on the line.

Any disappointment for Hoy was tempered by his time which was a new PB of 1 min 49.80 seconds.

A delighted Hoy explained: “ The race went well, I was more composed and tactically aware. I probably went a wee bit early but I knew I had to if we were going to run a fast time. Two other lads followed me and just got me on the line, I finished third and five of us finished in a big group, all running under 1 minute 50 seconds. I ran 1 min 49.80secs which is a PB for me and my first time under 1.50.” Two weeks earlier, the middle distance star raced in Manchester at a British Milers Club meeting.

It was another good outing.

“I finished second in the race and ran 1.50.86 which at that stage was my second fastest time ever. This was a great way to start the season, picking up right where I left off at my peak last summer. I was a bit rusty in the race and made a few tactical and positional errors but was very happy with how I came through it and set a good marker for myself,” revealed Mark who is looking forward to a busy summer.

“I’m excited for the rest of the season now as I start to add more speed work to my training and reduce the number of miles I run each week to feel fresher. Next up for me is the NI and Ulster Senior Championships where I’ll be looking to retain my title from last year, followed the week after by the Le Cheile International meet,” concluded Fermanagh’s top runner.