Overview

• The Longford athlete won his Tokyo semi-final in 1:43.18, finishing ahead of Britain’s Max Burgin to secure a lane in the final.
• Mark English missed out after placing third in his semi-final in 1:45.47, a month after setting the previous Irish record of 1:43.37.
• McPhillips is the first Irishman to qualify for a world outdoor 800m final.
• The final takes place on Saturday at 2:22pm Irish time, with live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
• Coaches and analysts now regard him as a genuine medal contender, highlighting his rise from a pre-championship ranking of 53rd and a previous best outside 1:44.