Birmingham-bound! Host of top Scots set to compete at Diamond League

Thursday 19th May 2022

Birmingham Diamond League start-lists and schedule

The Diamond League is back in Britain – and a really strong Scottish cohort will be looking to make an impact on Birmingham this weekend.

Olympic medallists Josh Kerr and Laura Muir lead the way and there’s an added bonus in the redeveloped Alexander Stadium offering athletes the ideal ‘recce’ ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Laura goes head-to-head with training partner and pal, Jemma Reekie, in what looks a thrilling Women’s 1500m while Josh is in a stacked Men’s field over the same distance.

Jake Wightman, Guy Learmonth and Jenny Selman have 800m races to relish and Zoey Clark and Nicole Yeargin compete in a British women’s 400m showdown.

Adam Thomas and Alisha Rees, already in fine form in 2022, will compete in domestic 100m races. And there are places for our discus throwers, Kirsty Law and Nick Percy.

In addition, Scotland will field 4x100m teams as our sprinters are given an opportunity to try and post Team Scotland qualifying time for Birmingham – with a number of those athletes then moving on to the Loughborough International the following day where they will again represent Scotland.

Scotland Men:

Adam Thomas; Allan Hamilton; Michael Olsen; Krishawn Aiken; Stephen Dunlop

Scotland Women:

Rebecca Matheson; Alisha Rees; Sarah Malone; Taylah Spence

The redeveloped Alexander Stadium is the venue for Diamond League meet (photo via Birmingham 2022)

Laura missed out on racing during the indoor season through injury but has recovered.

‘I’m actually very surprised at the shape I’m in,’ she told the Herald.

‘This has been probably the most significant injury I’ve had in my career so far so I wasn’t sure how I was going to be coming back from it but I cross trained and since getting back into running, my fitness has been better than expected so I’m really happy with where I’m at.

‘Injuries are bittersweet because you’re not able to do what you want to do but also, it’s your body telling you you’re not as strong and resilient in that area as you could be.

‘That in turn makes you stop, take a look at things and work on that and, in the long term, you could be running faster as a result.’

Here’s the schedule involving Scots (subject to changes) . . .

11.35: Seated Shot: Adam Donnachie

12.10: Women’s 400m Wheelchair race: Mel Woods

12.33: Women’s 800m B: Jenny Selman, Jill Cherry

12:52: Women’s 400m B: Zoey Clark, Nicole Yeargin

13.21: Women’s Discus: Kirsty Law

13.26: Men’s 800m B: Guy Learmonth

13.34: Women’s 100m B: Alisha Rees

13.42: Men’s 100m B: Adam Thomas

14.17: Women’s 1500m: Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie

14.37: Men’s 800m: Jake Wightman