Mark English did it in 2014 and again in 2015 and has the world at his feet once more in 2016.
Twelve months ago, the now 22-year-old was named as the Donegal Sports Star overall award winner and tonight his crown was retained, which is something his father Joe said wasn’t something they might’ve anticipated.
“I know Mark will be delighted to accept this award and it is a proud night for Mark and for all of us,” Joe English said tonight at the Mount Errigal Hotel in front of a crowd in the region of 700.
“This is so unexpected. To think that he has this Cup for the second year in a row really is unbelievable.”
Sky Sports scholar Mark English is currently preparing for his first Olympics, which take place this summer in Rio, having just returned from Stellenbosch, South Africa, where he was on a training camp.
Click here for Chris McNulty’s blog on the Donegal Sports Star awards
The highlight of 2015 for the Letterkenny native was his silver medal in the 800m at the IAAF European Indoor Athletics Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, in March.
That success is perhaps what swung the decision of the Donegal Sports Star committee towards the UCD Medical student, who in 2014 took home bronze from the European Athletics Championships in Zurich, Switzerland.
Perhaps an even stronger indicator of just what English is capable of became a little clearer after his excellent fourth placed finish at the Anniversary Games at Queen Elizabeth Park – the site of the 2012 Games – in July.
There, in a world-class field, he finished in fourth place behind Nigel Amos, world record holder David Rudisha and Adam Kszczot.
“He is really looking forward to Rio,” Joe English added. “Mark has come up through the ranks. He has won the primary and secondary school awards here, as well as the athletics award.”
Mark English was, in fact, the first award winner of the night, when he picked up the athletics awards. And of course he was the last when he retained the overall prize. Here’s a list of all the winners:
