Learmonth: Now is the time for new heroes

Guy Learmonth claims it’s time for a new golden era of middledistance magic which buries the feats of Seb Coe and Steve Ovett deep inside the history books.

The 800m runner is the second fastest Scot in history over his distance and steps up today at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo aiming to break his record which stands at 1:45.10.

Scottish team- mate Jake Wightman won bronze at this year’s Commonwealth Games and Learmonth reckons the new generation can be the heroes of tomorrow.

The 26- year- old said: “The competition’s gone up in the UK.

“It’s good to be part of it. It keeps me on my toes.

“There is no hiding place in middle-distance now – you have to bring your A game. I get annoyed at people still harping on constant ly about the Coe- Cram- Ovett era.

“Sure, those lot and a few others set the bar but where’s our encouragement?

“We have top-class athletes. I expect a new golden age.”

Beth Dobbin set a Scottish 200metres record of 22.84 seconds in Eton yesterday, breaking Sandra Whittaker’s mark of 22.98 from the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Beth Potter took 24th place in her second outing of the season in triathlon’s World Cup series.

The Olympic 10,000m finalist, who has moved away from athletics, finished over three minutes adrift of Austrian winner Lisa Perterer in Cagliari.