Top Scots hunt final places and medals at British Champs

Thursday 6th July 2023

All roads lead to Manchester this weekend for top Scottish athletes – with a handful believing the British Champs will be a staging post en route to Budapest.

GB and NI vests at the World Champs are up for grabs with the broader focus being Scots competing in a UK context and hopefully reaching finals or making the podium.

Laura Muir leads the track cohort in the Women’s 1500m while discus duo Nick Percy and Kirsty Law have savoured Manchester medals in the past.

Add the likes of Josh Kerr, Neil Gourley, Jemma Reekie, Guy Learmonth, Nicole Yeargin, Carys McAulay, Adam Clayton, Alisha Rees and Adam Thomas and the prospects for final places look good.

It should be noted, however, that this year the Scottish cohort is with the likes of injured duo Jake Wightman and Zoey Clark, distance double act Eilish McColgan and Andy Butchart.

Furthermore, and a handful of younger athletes who are preparing for the Euro U23 Champs the following weekend (with seven Scots selected equalling our best-ever representation on a GB team for those particular championships).

Also, worth noting there are no Para championship events this weekend with seven Scots in the GB and NI team in Paris preparing for the World Para Champs – which starts on Saturday.

Nick Percy threw a Scottish Record 65.00m to win the discus gold last year in Manchester (photo by Getty Images for British Athletics)

Wightman’s absence and Kerr’s decision to race in the 800m, could open the door for European Indoor silver medallist Gourley in the Men’s 800m – although there is strong English opposition there, too. Eloise Walker is on the start-list for the Women’s 5000m and Jenny Selman in the 1500m.

Yeargin and McAulay will be looking to push individual and relay spot claims in the Women’s 400m. Alisha Rees is already seeded through to the Women’s semi-finals in the 100m.

Adam Thomas, Adam Clayton, Krishawn Aiken and Georgina Adam will have high hopes while Jack Lawrie may have his own 400m Hurdles Scottish Record (50.07) in mind if conditions are good.

Among our Field event hopefuls, as well as the discus throwers and British Champs regulars Chris Bennett and Greg Millar, are Aidan Quinn and Henry Clarkson in the Triple Jump.

Will Grimsey, after a recent GB appearance at the European Team Champs in Poland, will look to impress in the Men’s High Jump.