Scottish stars seek Olympic selection at Muller British Champs

Thursday 24th June 2021

Top Scottish athletes will look to punch their tickets to Tokyo this weekend.

It’s the eagerly-awaited Muller British Champs and Olympic Trials in Manchester with live coverage on the British Athletics website and YouTube channel.

Four Scottish athletes have already been selected for the GB and NI team for Japan – with marathon runners Callum Hawkins, Steph Twell and Steph Davis having been joined earlier this month by Eilish McColgan in the 10,000m.

Now up to another ten or so more will head to the Manchester Regional Arena venue with realistic hopes of delivering performances which can help them clinch places in the team for Tokyo.

Athletes who have a qualifying standard land automatic selection for the Games if they come up with a top two finish this weekend.

The Scots who will compete this weekend who have an Olympic standard so far are as follows: Laura Muir (1500m and 800m); Jemma Reekie (800m); Jake Wightman (1500m); Josh Kerr (1500m); Andy Butchart (5000m); Eilish McColgan (5000m); Nicole Yeargin (400m); Beth Dobbin (200m).

Zoey Clark (400m) will be keen to make the 51.35 standard for the individual one-lap event – and in so doing also strengthen her claims for 4x400m relay selection.

Jemma Reekie, Laura Muir and Jake Wightman shared our 4J Studios Performer of the Year award in 2020 and all should be prominent in Manchester

Of course, it is not just about chasing Olympic standards with British Championship medals always to be cherished as well as places in finals or PBs and/or important experience for our younger athletes.

Kirsty Law, for example, is looking to win the British Championship in the Women’s discus for the third year in a row and indeed she ‘warmed up’ in superb fashion in midweek with a new PB throw of 59.60m at Loughborough.

Nick Percy is similarly defending the Men’s discus title he won in Manchester last September while hammer thrower Chris Bennett will look to improve on the silver he won in that event.

High jumpers Nikki Manson and Will Grimsey look to be strong medal contenders in their events, too.

And there are Para competition opportunities on the programme with sprints lined up for Maria Lyle, who was named this week for the Paralympics, as well as Libby Clegg. There’s a 400m wheelchair race for Sammi Kinghorn.

Also lined up to compete are Alexander Thomson, Stef Reid, Luke Deighan, Ben Rowlings and Kyle Brotherton.

Good luck to all the Scots competing this weekend and their families, coaches and the clubs who helped develop them over a number of years.

WANT TO READ MORE?

Andy Butchart interview with Athletics Weekly

BBC commentator Steve Cram on key events this weekend

Meet Nicole Yeargin – BBC Scotland piece

We’re pleased to bring you more of the #MullerBritishChamps than ever before with 22+ hours of live coverage on our YouTube & website😍

Friday 25th from 14:00
Saturday 26th from 09:30
Sunday 27th from 10:00

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— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) June 23, 2021