Main Pic: Finn Valley AC coaches pictured with Arlene Crossan and Mark English. Included are Sinead McConnell, Pat Hegarty, Garvan Boyce, Catriona Devine and Rosaleen McGonagle at the homecoming event in Stranorlar. (North West Newspix)
European Athletics Indoor Championships 800m bronze medallist Mark English and 4x400m relay finalist Arlene Crossan were honoured by Finn Valley AC on Saturday.
A large crowd attended a function at the Finn Valley Centre to formally welcome the pair back to the club following their competition at the European Indoors in Apeldoorn, Netherlands in early March.
Arlene Crossan speaking at the homecoming event in the Finn Valley Centre. (North West Newspix)
Mark English speaking at the homecoming event in the Finn Valley Centre. (North West Newspix)
English won the fifth European medal of his career when clocking 1:45.46 in the final, beaten only by Samuel Chapple and Eliott Crestan at the Omnisport.
Having won European outdoor silver in 2014 and bronze in 2022, he also took bronze in the 2015 and 2019 versions of the European Indoors.
Only the legendary Sonia O’Sullivan has won more major international medals than English, now the most decorated male athlete in the history of Irish athletics.
Mark English receiving a presentation from Finn Valley coach Barry Gallagher. (North West Newspix)
Earlier in the year, he set a new Irish indoor 800m record of 1:45.15 while running at the world famous Millrose Games in New York and he also holds the Irish outdoor record (1:44.53), which he will look to lower in the outdoor season.
The Letterkenny native spent Christmas in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain in the company of his father, Joe, and the sacrifices in search of the small percentages paid off; the difference between third and fourth in the 800m final was just 0.11 of a second.
Arlene Crossan receiving a presentation from Finn Valley Athlete Megan McGranaghan. (North West Newspix)
For Crossan, this was a breakthrough championship on the back of an appearance in the Irish Indoor 400m final earlier in the year.
Previously, she competed in the EYOF in 2015 and has represented Ireland in the European U18s and European Juniors.
The European Indoor 4x400m relay final represented her senior international debut, coming 20 years after her coach, Shauna Carlin, represented Ireland in an Indoor Track and Field Meet against Wales in 2005.
Crossan and the Irish team finished sixth in the final and the challenge now will be to retain a berth looking ahead to the outdoor campaign.
Patsy McGonagle with Mark English and Arlene Crossan at their homecoming at the Finn Valley Centre. (North West Newspix)
Finn Valley AC founder Patsy McGonagle, who managed the Irish athletics team on 72 occasions, addressed the attendance at the function, while a message was also relayed from club chairman Dermot McGranaghan.
Pat The Cope Gallagher TD and Mayor of Letterkenny Councillor Gerry McMonagle also spoke at the function, which was attended by the extended English and Crossan families as well as club members and supporters.
Pat “The Cope” Gallagher TD speaking at the homecoming of Arlene Crossan and Mark English. (North West Newspix)
Mark English with his family and Cllr Gerry McMonagle, Patsy McGonagle and Pat The Cope Gallagher. T.D. (North West Newspix)
Arlene Crossan with her family and Cllr Gerry McMonagle, Patsy McGonagle and Pat The Cope Gallagher. T.D. (North West Newspix)
Patsy McGonagle speaking at the homecoming of Arlene Crossan and Mark English. (North West Newspix)
