Donegal medical doctor Mark English took gold in the 800 meters on Thursday evening in the European Championships being held in Birmingham.
Twenty minutes later, 23-year-old Rhasidat Akeleke added to her career medal haul by winning silver in the 200 meters and breaking the Irish national record at the Alexander Stadum.
The 33-year-old English won a tactical battle, using his sprinting prowess to hold off the other contenders in the final stretch.
He came home in 1:45.26 with Croatia's Marino Bloudek second in 1:45.62 and Mohamed Attaqui of Spain third in 1:45.71.
Mark English winning gold in the 800 meters final. [Inpho/Morgan Treacy]
"His form during the week indicated clearly that he was in the shape to have a go at the gold. It was very, very clear that he wasn't going to be satisfied with anything less," said Patsy McGonigle, a coach at Finn Valley Athletics Club, where the runner is a member.
The women's 200 meters race was won by Amy Hunt, from Britain, who followed up her gold in 100 meters on Monday with a season’s best of 22.19. Adeleke came from behind to take second place at 22.28 seconds, finishing .01 ahead of Hunt's veteran compatriot Dina Asher-Smith.
For Adeleke, who is a member of Tallaght A.C. in Dublin, the silver was all the sweeter as she’d been battling injuries in recent months.
"It's been a tough year for her," her mother Ade Adeleke told RTÉ's “News at One.”
"I thank God everything went as it should ... I think she's back and better now and we see what she can do.
"It was emotional for me because it's been a tough year for her and being a mother, looking at her and seeing her struggle, it's been tough for me."
