| PERSONAL DETAILS | |
| D.O.B. | 15 January 1972 |
| Height | 178cm |
| Weight | 61kg |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Occupation | Full-Time Athlete |
| Club | Leevale A.C. |
| Coach | Jimmy Harvey |
| Sponsor | Asics |
| Education | Marketing Degree from Providence College, USA Pupil at North Monastery CBS |
| EVENT | PERSONAL BEST | MEET | YEAR |
| 1,500m | 3:35.00 | Barcelona GP Permit Meeting | 1999 |
| 3,000m | 7:30.36 National Record | IAAF Grand Prix, Stockholm | 1999 |
| 5,000m | 13:03.93 National Record | IAAF Grand Prix, Berlin | 1998 |
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS/RESULTS
The 1999 World T&F Championships will be Mark's third appearance in this competition, having competed in Athens and Gothenburg. He won the bronze medal in the 1998 European T&F Championships 5000m in Budapest. In 1991 Mark was the European Junior T&F 5000m Champion in Thessalonika, Greece. He competed in the 1999 World Cross-Country Championships 4K race in Belfast. Whilst at Providence College Mark won one gold, one silver and three bronze in NCAA Championships. He was the runner-up in the 1991 US Junior Cross-Country. Indoors the Cork runner represented Ireland at the World Indoors in 1997, and is a former Milrose Games Champion. He was ranked first in the 1999 World Indoor Mile Ranking List with a time of 3.57.62. Mark is a regular competitor in IAAF Grand Prix events.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS/RESULTS
Mark is the National Record holder in the 3000m (7.30.36) and 5000m (13.03.93). He won the 1999 TNT BLE T&F Championship 1500m and 5000m in Santry. This was his second National title over 1500m, having won gold in 1995, and silver in 1991. He holds the National Indoor Record at 5000m with 13.31.93 set in Birmingham in 1999. Mark's personal best of 3.35.00 for 1500m ranks 4th on the Irish All-Time list.
1999 FORM
Mark set his fourth National record with a fantastic 7.30.36 for 3000m to finish 5th in the Monaco GP. This time ranks him second on the European All-Time list for 3000m. Prior to this he ran a personal best 1500m time of 3.35.00 in the Barcelona Permit Meet, proving his return to top form after suffering from a low red blood cell count in June. He won the 1500m and 5000m double at the TNT BLE National T&F. Earlier in the season, the Leevale man posted 1500m times of 3.40.08 in the Hengelo GP, and 3.38.96 in the Milan GP. Over the mile he ran 3.56.9 in the Coogan Midnight Mile, and later ran 1.51.68 for 800m on the same track. An indoor 5000m NR at the Rioch GP in Birmingham (13.31.93) was followed by two sub14.00 runs in Cork and Montreal.