Mark English produced the run of his life to become the first Irishman to win a European Championships gold medal after a sensational performance in the 800m final in Birmingham last night.

The 33-year-old veteran ran close to the perfect race, finding good position just off the lead and holding it comfortably until the final push on the back straight when he cruised into the lead and powered home.

It was the culmination of a long-held dream to claim gold having come up agonisingly short at previous championships and he was understandably emotional at the end, roared on by the sizeable Irish contingent in what was the biggest Birmingham crowd of the meet so far.

‘I can’t sum it up. I haven’t even written that chapter yet,’ English told RTÉ afterwards. ‘I am still working on the chapter to get here. I don’t know how to feel to be honest, I think I am relieved more than anything. I really wanted that gold medal today and I am just really thankful I took it home.

‘I have so many people to thank, my coach, strength and conditioning staff, nutrition, physiology, medical… I am over the moon. I just tried to track everything; there is a great saying that you try to spread the peanut butter evenly in the 800, so I tried to do that and save energy for the last 100 metres. I am so happy.

‘I really wanted that title, really happy. We get into the sport to break records and win titles and it would be hard to finish my career without a title. It will take a while to process this. It’s the best Irish support I have ever run in front of, I think there was more Irish than English here. It was amazing.’

While English was the fastest athlete heading into the final and therefore one of the favourites, the ease with which he obliterated a quality field still came as something of a surprise in what was a run for the ages.

Elsewhere, Irish sprinters Marcus Lawler and Sean Aigboboh gave it their best shot but failed to make the final of the 200m after two lightning-quick semi-finals. Carlow man Lawler ran powerfully in his heat, looking like he was going to finish third but he faded as the line neared and ended up in fifth.

Nonetheless, his time of 20.94, which was just outside his season’s best, was good enough to get Lawler into the semi-finals as he qualified with the ninth fastest time of the 13 who made it through.

Unfortunately, by the time he made the starting line for the semi, Lawler struggled to cope with the speed of the field and subsequently finished at the back, having been unable to make any impact.

Meanwhile, Aigboboh served notice of his vast potential and put himself in with a shout of making the final after finishing fourth in his semi-final. The 20-year-old is still finding his way in the world of elite sprinting and while he is considered to be raw at this level, the talent is there for all to see.

Having been through an arduous collegiate season in the US, it was understandable that Aigboboh would be feeling it in his legs in Birmingham but his performances suggest that this is a sprinter who could achieve great things for Ireland in the not too distant future.

Sophie Becker admitted she was ‘disappointed’ not to make the final of the 400m, after she finished her semi-final in 52.47.

Becker has had a difficult year and making the semi-final was an achievement in itself. ‘I’m not delusional, I know I wasn’t in shape to get into the final,’ Becker told RTÉ Sport. ‘But I was hoping for another season’s best. I am a bit disappointed.

‘But yesterday’s run was definitely a step in the right direction for me. And it gave me confidence going into today. It’s never a case that I just want to show up. I want to put down performances and really partake in it.’

Reporting by Aoife English