No drama and all smiles for Potter as she eyes world championships

BEAMING from ear to ear, Beth Potter had the luxury of savouring her cruise towards a maiden British title on Saturday night. The close proximity of the crowd at the compact Highgate track allowed her to soak up their cheers as she sealed her place in the 10,000metres at this summer’s world championships in London. ‘I was grinning and looking at my coach and thinking: “This is good”,’ said the 25-year-old Glaswegian, whose time of 32:04.63 left her almost 12 seconds ahead of fellow Scot Steph Twell. No dramas, just euphoria. Quite a contrast to 12 months ago when — with Olympic invites on the line — she had to strain every sinew to survive before advancing onward to Rio. ‘Last year, I was just overwhelmed with emotion at the end,’ said Potter. ‘In the last 2K of last year’s race, it was quite stressful because I knew I had to hold onto that place. Whereas I came here with no pressure. ‘It was good to have a battle with my training partner Steph — and it’s nice to come away as No 1 this time after finishing second before.’ Potter’s performance was all the more remarkable for the fact that, since January, she has been based largely in Leeds as a full-time triathlete, committed to spending at least 18 months transitioning into a second sport where some of the learning — particularly on the bike — has been from scratch. Two low-key outings have been promising. The real initial test will come early next month at Blenheim, a first opportunity to make her case for selection for Scotland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. While the result here ensures she can complete her set of major championship appearances, it will not be a distraction from conquering the three-pronged challenge already in motion. ‘You don’t turn down a GB vest, do you?’ said Potter (pictured). ‘But I’m just going to carry on with what I’m doing. It’s working. I’m improving in the tri and in the running, so there’s no point in changing anything at the moment.’ Twell, in a tenacious debut at the distance, was an agonising 1.23 seconds outside the world qualifying time of 32:15 but the 2016 European bronze medallist hinted she will retain her focus on the 5,000 metres ahead of London. ‘Qualifying would have been nice but it was just about seeing the over-distance work and seeing whether I am ready for 5,000m and 1500m,’ she said. Andy Vernon and Dewi Griffiths took the top two places in the men’s race, with Sir Mo Farah already guaranteed selection as reigning world champion. Meanwhile, Scots sprint starlet Alisha Rees stormed to victory over Rio 2016 medallist Asha Philip at the Loughborough International. The Aberdeenshire teenager won the 200m in 23.61 seconds, inside the qualifying mark for the European junior championships. Andrew Lemoncello won the first-ever Stirling Marathon in 2:25.01 yesterday. Leslie Pirie of Glasgow-Victoria Park won the women’s race in 2:47.36. Zola Budd rolled back the years to come ninth in 3:12:24, with fellow track legend Liz McColgan six minutes behind.