Mark English has dazzled on three big European athletics stages in the last two weeks as his preparations for Rio pick up pace. After a tough three weeks training in South Africa, the 22-year-old rising Irish star was second in a high-class field in Dusseldorf on February 5. Beating American rival Erik Sowinski followed at the Globen Galen in Sweden. On Saturday, a bigger test awaited at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix with Sowinski and Polands European outdoor champion Adam Kszczot heading a strong field.In his latest blog, the Sky Academy Sports Scholar gives a dramatic account of his race build-up and how he fared against some of Europes top 800m runners......Theres no greater thrill than competing in front of a sold-out stadium. Racing in Glasgow on Saturday was doing exactly that and I loved every minute of it.Standing on the balcony overlooking the track before the race, I felt that excited nervousness that only flows for big races. I couldnt wait to get racing!I had spent the previous two days recovering from Stockholm where I raced a 500m and I was happy to run a new national record.I always enjoy running this distance - its a distance that suits a speed-oriented 800m runner. But I was certainly glad to leave the sub-zero temperatures and snowy conditions behind, even if I was just swapping it for rain! English says the 800m is not a race where you can stop and start and hope to still run fast. RACE BUILD-UPSo it was on to Scotland on Saturday. I arrived at the Kelvin Hall stadium two hours before my race. I headed down to the warm-up area with 50 minutes to go. Like always, I did my 15-minute warm-up, starting slow and working into a faster rhythm towards the end.It was time to lace up the spikes and do some activation work, followed by some strides. I felt really good at this point.Its easy to tell if youre in shape when you feel that pop in your legs. It was there! And I knew I was ready to run fast!With 30 minutes to go, the final call came. In the call room I looked around and evaluated who was nervous and tense, who was relaxed and ready.That tells me a lot about how each athlete will approach the race. We all got up from our seats, left our bags in boxes, and headed to the track. Its funny to see athletes stride out as soon as we reach the track. It must look like weve just been let out of prison!RACE TIMEThe 800m race itself went out quick and I slotted into the slipstream as early as possible. My aim was to up the tempo between 200-400m but unfortunately the rhythm was disrupted when the pace of the race slowed after the first lap.That will always cost you a fast time in 800m running - it really is not an event where you can stop and start and hope to still run fast!Its about fatiguing least as opposed to accelerating most! But thats indoor racing - you have to adapt to the circumstances that youre in.The race felt a bit pedestrian until Sowinski made a move to the front after 400m.It was a strange thing to see him do that as he usually likes to run out hard from the start. I think he caught most by surprise. Anyway, I was certainly thankful as it sped the tempo of the race back to a respectable pace again. Adam Kszczot finishes ahead of English in a competitive 800m race in Glasgow Heading into the last lap, I knew Kszczot was close by. I glanced over my shoulder with 200m to go, waiting for him. At the bell he took a few steps out of me and I tried to go with it.I got bumped out wide into lane two and I only really got into my running over the last 50m. It was a bit too late to catch a world silver medalist but I was still happy with how strong I felt.RACE REFLECTIONTheres one certainty from the weekend in Glasgow. Thats knowing I have a huge time left in me.Ill take that confidence with me to the outdoor season - in the full knowing that Ill ready for all opposition coming at me during the summer.Its less than 200 days away until less than two minutes of work. Every day will count until the Rio Olympics and Im relishing the challenge.WHATS COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS...JAN 16 - MARCH 5: Siobhan OConnor, AustraliaFEB 22-28: Jack Bateson, Strandja tournament, BulgariaFEB 27: Lucy Garner, Omloop Het NieuwsbladFEB 28: Lucy Garner, Omloop van het HagelandFEB 27/28: Mark English, National Indoor Champs, Athlone Also See: English bows out in style About the Scholarship Meet the athletes Blogs Kyle Singler Jersey . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Wholesale Thunder Jerseys . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.cheapthundersjerseys.com/ . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Dakari Johnson Jersey . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Shawn Kemp Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. CLEVELAND -- The Latest on the World Series (all times Eastern):11:50 p.m.Cody Allen has closed out the Cleveland Indians 6-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1.Game 2 is Wednesday night. With rain in the forecast, the start time was moved up an hour to 7:08 p.m.Trevor Bauer, trying to come back from a sliced pinkie, is scheduled to start for the Indians against Jake Arrieta.---11:35 p.m.Roberto Perez has hit his second homer in Game 1, a three-run shot in the eighth inning off Cubs reliever Hector Rondon that gave the Cleveland Indians a 6-0 lead.Perez became the first No. 9 batter and first Indians player to have a multihomer game in the World Series. He has three home runs this postseason, matching his total in 61 games during the regular season.---11:15 p.m.Andrew Miller has struck out Kyle Schwarber with runners at the corners to end the top of the eighth inning and preserve Clevelands 3-0 lead over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1.The lefty reliever worked two innings and threw 46 pitches, his most in a game since 2011, when he was a starter.---10:45 p.m.Andrew Miller has pitched out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the seventh inning to protect Clevelands 3-0 lead over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1.Indians ace Corey Kluber was lifted after Ben Zobrists leadoff single. Miller, the AL Championship Series MVP, walked Kyle Schwarber on a full count and gave up a single to Javier Baez on an 0-2 pitch.That loaded the bases, but pinch-hitter Willson Contreras flied out to shallow center field and Addison Russell struck out on three pitches. David Ross also struck out, and Miller pumped his fist as he bounced off the mound.Kluber yielded four hits and walked none in six-plus innings. The 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner fanned nine -- eight in the first three innings.---10:15 p.m.With rain in the Cleveland forecast Wednesday night, Major League Baseball has moved up the start time for Game 2 by an hour.The first pitch at Progressive Field is now scheduled for 7:08 p.m.Trevor Bauer is slated to pitch for the Indians against Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta.---10:15 p.m.The lights at Progressive Field flickered during the bottom of the sixth inning in Game 1.Cubs reliever Pedro Strop was about to throw a pitch to Roberto Perez when plate umpire Larry Vanover raised his arms and called timeout. A moment later, the stadium was fully bright again and play resumed.Perez struck out looking to end the inning.---9:45 p.m.Roberto Perezs second home run this postseason has given the Indians a 3-0 lead over the Cubs in Game 1.The Cleveland catcher hit a solo shot that struck the railing above the wall in left field with one out in the fourth.The drive came after Cleveland ace Corey Kluber worked out of mild trouble in the top of the inning.Perez, who batted .183 with three homers in 61 games during the regular season, has been starting in place of regular catcher Yan Gomes, who just returned from injury.---9:40 p.m.Chicago designated hitter Kyle Schwarber has his first major league hit of 2016.Schwarber doubled off Corey Kluber with two outs in the fourth. The young slugger hadnt played since tearing two ligaments in his left knee on April 7. He was ruled out for the year, but after a rapid recovery from surgery, the Cubs put Schwarber on their World Series roster Tuesday.He struck out in his first at-bat but smacked a double off the wall in right field his next time up and strolled into second base.Schwarber was stranded when Javier Baez flied out on the next pitch.---9:10 p.m.Indians ace Corey Kluber has set a World Series record with eight strikeouts through the first three innings. Cleveland leads the Chicago Cubs 2-0 in Game 1.The eight strikeouts also represent the most by an Indians hurler in a World Series game.---8:50 p.m.The Cubs had a chance to score in the second inning but couldnt do anything after Ben Zobrists leadoff double. Kyle Schwarber, added to the World Series roster Tuesday, struck out swinging. Schwarber tore two knee ligaments in early April and hadnt played in the majors since.Indians ace Corey Kluber has five strikeouts through the first two innings.---8:45 p.m.The Cleveland Indians have jumped on top 2-0 in Game 1 with a two-out rally in the first inning against a scuffling Jon Lester.Francisco Lindor singled and stole second before Lester issued consecutive walks to Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana. Jose Ramirez drove in the first run with an infield single, a swinging bunt that produced a dribbler toward third base and left the Cubs with no play.Brandon Guyer, in the starting lineup because of his strong numbers against left-handers, was hit by a pitch to force in another run. Nothing new for Guyer -- he racked up 31 HBPs this season, most in the majors and twice as many as anyone else in the American League.Lonnie Chisenhall fouled out to end the inning, with 39-year-old Cubs catcher David Ross making a nice play and getting a face full of padding on the net between home plate and the dugout.The two quick runs off Lester were one more than he allowed in his previous 21 World Series innings. The lefty entered 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA in three Series starts for Boston.---8:15 p.m.Dexter Fowler took a called third strike from Cleveland Indians ace Corey Kluber leading off the game, becoming the first Chicago Cubs player to bat in the World Series in 25,948 days.Chicago had not played a Series game since Oct. 10, 1945, when Don Johnson hit into a game-ending forceout against Detroits Hal Newhouser in Game 7.Cleveland is appearing in its first World Series since an 11-inning Game 7 loss at the Florida Marlins in 1997.---7:37 p.m.As the Indians and Cubs got ready for first pitch, Cleveland celebrated its first championship in 52 years next door.The Cavaliers, who made a historic comeback to win the NBA Finals in Junee, received their diamond rings and a banner was raised at Quicken Loans Arena.ddddddddddddCavs superstar LeBron James addressed the sellout crowd, telling the fans this is for you. He also wished the Indians good luck as they try to win the World Series for the first time since 1948.---7:22 p.m.LeBron James was busy raising a championship banner at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday night, but the Cleveland Cavaliers star made sure to take care of the hometown guys across the street at Progressive Field.James sent each member of the Indians wireless headphones ahead of Game 1 of the World Series against the Chicago Cubs. The Indians repaid James by having shortstop Francisco Lindor sign a jersey and send it back to the Cavaliers.The Indians are trying to put an end to Clevelands championship drought, which is at a daunting 128 days since James and the Cavs beat Golden State in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.---6:20 p.m.An auction house says memorabilia of Yankees great Yogi Berra sold for $493,855 during an online auction, including $159,720 for his 1953 World Series championship ring.Steiner Sports said Tuesday that Berras 1972 Hall of Fame induction ring sold for $90,000, a game-worn 1961 World Series jersey for $71,874 and his Hall induction plaque for $36,300. In all, 81 Berra lots were sold.The catcher died in September 2015.The auction ran from Sept. 13 through Monday. Prices include commission.---5:05 p.m.Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis sprained left ankle wont keep him out of Game 1 against the Cubs.Kipnis, who injured his ankle in the postgame celebration following Game 5 of the AL Championship Series in Toronto, ran the bases better than expected on Monday, and the Indians arent concerned his injury will be an issue.---5 p.m.Indians manager Terry Francona says hes considering playing Carlos Santana in left field at Chicagos Wrigley Field, where Cleveland will not have the designated hitter for Games 3-5 against the Cubs.Santana took fly balls in left the past few days, and Francona said the first baseman/DH is willing to play the outfield. Francona said the biggest hesitation in making the move is that Santana has played only one career game in left.---4:55 p.m.The weather is clear for Tuesday nights World Series opener and a game-time temperature of about 50 degrees is forecast, but there is a chance of rain during Game 2 on Wednesday night.The Weather Channel predicted a 25 percent chance of rain for the start of Game 2, with the percentage increasing to 55 percent by 10 p.m. and 80 percent by 11 p.m.The Weather Channel also predicted the wind will be blowing out at Chicagos Wrigley Field at 10-20 mph for Game 3 on Friday night. The network said the daytime highs in Chicago are expected to be at least in the mid-60s on Friday and close to 70 on Saturday.When the Series last was at Wrigley in 1945, TWC said the high temperature ranged from 74 degrees on Oct. 7 to 51 the following day.---4:10 p.m.Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber is starting the World Series opener against the Cleveland Indians at designated hitter.Schwarber is batting fifth in Game 1 against Cleveland starter Corey Kluber.Heres the Cubs lineup: Dexter Fowler CF, Kris Bryant 3B, Anthony Rizzo 1B, Ben Zobrist LF, Schwarber DH, Javier Baez 2B, Chris Coghlan RF, Addison Russell SS and David Ross C.Heres the Indians lineup: Rajai Davis CF, Jason Kipnis 2B, Francisco Lindor SS, Mike Napoli 1B, Carlos Santana DH, Jose Ramirez 3B, Brandon Guyer LF, Lonnie Chisenhall RF and Roberto Perez C.---4 p.m.One start made Ryan Merritt a postseason hero, but hes hardly a household name.The Indians rookie pitcher walked to work virtually unrecognized Tuesday before Game 5 of the World Series against the Cubs. Wearing a backpack, the left-hander, who pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Toronto in the ALCS, blended into the crowd as he made his way to Progressive Field.Indians outfielder Coco Crisp attracted more attention. He was happy to pose for selfies and sign autographs as he headed to the ballpark.Crisp is in his second stint with the Indians, who acquired him from Oakland in an August trade. The 36-year-old switch-hitter is savoring his second World Series, this time with the team he started with.Crisp says: Its like a dream come true.---10:35 a.m.Danny Salazar has made the Cleveland Indians World Series roster.The right-hander hasnt pitched in a game since Sept. 9 because of forearm tightness, but after some rehab and rest, the Indians think hes ready to help them against the Chicago Cubs.Its possible that Salazar, who was picked for his first All-Star team this season, will start Game 4. He might also pitch in relief if rookie Ryan Merritt starts at Wrigley Field. Merritt emerged as an unlikely postseason hero when he pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against Toronto.Salazar pitched a three-inning simulated game on Sunday night, the final hurdle for him to be cleared.---10:20 a.m.Kyle Schwarber has been added to the Chicago Cubs World Series roster and could start Tuesday nights opener against the Cleveland Indians at designated hitter.The 23-year-old, sidelined after tearing two knee ligaments on April 7, was included Tuesday on the Cubs 25-man roster. Left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny was dropped.Schwarber was expected to miss the rest of 2016 following knee surgery but was cleared medically to resume playing on Oct. 17. He played a pair of games in the Arizona Fall League and flew to Cleveland on Monday.As a rookie, Schwarber hit .246 with 16 homers and 43 RBI in 69 games.Cleveland also made one change, including Danny Salazar in place of Cody Anderson in a swap of right-handed pitchers. ' ' '