Rio awaits as Ad Astra scholar Mark English runs qualifying time for 2016 Olympics

Mark English, a student in the UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, will take his place among Ireland's representation at the 2016 Rio Olympics after running a qualifying time of 1:45.49 at the Anniversary Games in London.

The Ad Astra scholar took fourth place in the final race of the 800 metres, finishing less than a second behind winner Nijel Amos of Botswana, a silver medalist at the 2012 Olympics in London, and simultaneous world-record holder and Olympic champion David Rudisha of Kenya.

English won the silver medal at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Prague in March and holds the Irish senior indoor 800m record as well as the indoor and outdoor junior records in the same distance.

Rio marks the 31st modern iteration of the summer Olympics and will be the first to be held in Latin America. More than 10,500 athletes will compete across 306 medal events from August 5 - 21st.