Sarah thrilled with 4x100m Relay chance and Jenny, Guy ready, too

Sunday 31st July 2022

Scotland 4x100m quartet Alisha Rees, Taylah Spence, Sarah Malone and Rebecca Matheson have already set a National Record at the Alexander Stadium

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Team Scotland head to Birmingham with a big cohort of sprinters involved across the individual and relay events.

It’s a testament to hard work over the years by athletes and coaches and Adam Thomas, Alisha Rees, Beth Dobbin, Zoey Clark and Nicole Yeargin are all selected for individual events as well as Heather Paton in the sprint hurdles.

The selections for Alisha and Heather added weight to the 4x100m relay discussion – with a quartet having set a new National Record when achieving the qualifying time of 44.75.

Sarah Malone, Rebecca Matheson and Taylah Spence joined Rees on that team and those five athletes now form our 4x100m Relay squad for the Games.

At 22, Edinburgh AC athlete Malone is one of the youngest on the team and can’t wait to head south.

Alisha Rees interview in Scotland on Sunday

‘We knew there were restrictions on the overall team numbers,’ said Sarah, in a special interview at the Grangemouth training camp.

‘We understood when we ran the time, on two occasions, we knew that still wasn’t for definite in terms of selection. So finally when the calls came in and we were told we were picked it was so exciting. We are all messaging each other at once.

‘It’s the best season I’ve had already and the others in the team I am sure would say the same as we’ve been running PBs.

‘I think in a Commonwealth year then performances do go up and we were all simply desperate to be with Team Scotland. It that is pushing on Scottish female sprinting then that’s another bonus.’

Rebecca Matheson piece in the Press and Journal

In the middle distance events, the likes of Jenny Selman and Jemma Reekie make their Team Scotland debuts in the Women’s 800m while for Guy Learmonth this will be his third Commonwealths.

‘I had Covid a few weeks ago but recovered and training has been good over the past couple of weeks so I’m ready to go,’ said Jenny.

‘Sarah Inglis and I have trained together at the team camp and we were racing each other years ago as youngsters. Maybe aged 12! We’ve been in this sport a long time and it’s great to have made the improvements to be selected. I am so glad I stuck with it!’

Guy Learmonth has had an ‘up and down season’ but is now confident ahead of the action.

‘I’d one of my best indoor seasons but then had a few frustrations early in the outdoor track season,’ he said.

‘Fortunately over the past four weeks I have had no injuries or illness and I can’t wait for Birmingham now.

‘I always love competing for Team Scotland and it’s exciting that this will be my third Commonwealths. I think this can be really special for all of us and we can still class at as a home Games with a lot of Scots in Birmingham.’