The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Record number of Scots in GB team for World Championships
Thirteen athletes included in British team for World Championships
A record number of Scottish athletes will be competing in the World Championships next month.
Local trio Eilidh Doyle, Eilish McColgan and Laura Muir are among 13 GB and NI selections for the London games from north of the border – almost double the previous best of the seven who went to Helsinki in 1983 and Beijing in 2015.
Scottish Athlete of the Year Muir will double up for the 1,500m and the 5,000m after proving her fitness following a recent stress fracture in her left foot.
Fellow Kinross-shire runner Doyle is in line to compete in the 400m hurdles and the 4 x 400m relay team. McColgan joins Muir (and Steph Twell) in the 5,000m.
It remains possible that the tally of 13 athletes will rise further when a final wave of selections is announced by British Athletics on July 25.
There are IAAF invitations to be issued to athletes ranked in the top 32 in the world not otherwise selected and that may open the door for one or two more Scots.
Rodger Harkins, performance director with scottishathletics, said: “Let me firmly congratulate the athletes, their families, their coaches and the clubs involved in their development on selection by GB and NI for a World Champs.
“We should never be under the impression that selection for a British team at this level comes lightly. It comes after many years of hard work and dedication, sacrifice by athletes and families, and strong commitment, guidance and experience from coaches.
“Looking through those selected, I can see examples of that in each and every one of those 13 Scottish names.
“I’ve said previously I did have a slight concern that the year after an Olympics might be a little problematic. It can be the case and has been sometimes in the past – essentially we are in the first year in a four-year Olympic cycle.
“But I think the confidence boost from being in Rio, or seeing others in Rio, has inspired our athletes to new levels. The motivation to compete at a ‘home Games’ in London is also very strong. It’s a huge opportunity.
“For them it’s not enough to qualify for the Games – they want to get into finals if they can and prove themselves on the World stage. That’s the right attitude and I’d urge them all to be as competitive as they can.
“Robbie Simpson (marathon) made selection, too, but unfortunately had to withdraw and we’ve been in touch with him around that injury.”
Meanwhile, defending long jump champion Greg Rutherford has been selected despite growing doubts over his fitness.
The 30-year-old suffered an ankle injury last month which has left him struggling to be fit for the championships.
Rutherford won the long jump in Beijing two years ago and British Athletics will give him every chance to defend his title.
“Obviously this isn’t ideal,” Rutherford, who won Olympic gold in 2012, said.
“But I am doing everything to give myself the best chance of success at the World Championships in London.”
Reigning 5,000m and 10,000m world champion Mo Farah tops the billing in the team. Farah, who has not been defeated in a 5,000m or 10,000m race at a major championships since 2011, will be looking to pick up his fourth straight world title in the 5,000m and complete a hat-trick of 10,000m world titles before he retires from track racing.