Tough but rewarding for Eilidh

Kinross athlete Eilidh Doyle returned to competition over the 400m hurdles on Saturday – her first race following injury since the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.

Lacking race fitness, it was a tough ask, with her fading over the final 100m to finish in 7th (56.18).

2017 World Championships silver medallist Shamier Little (USA) prevailed in a dip finish on the line, timed at 53.95 shading Commonwealth champion Janieve Russell (Jamaica) by one hundredth of a second.

Doyle said: “It’s hard and you aren’t quite in the shape you want to be. It’s tough.

“I’ll race again next week and see if I can make big improvements before the Europeans.

“It was nervewracking as that was a world-class field so I kind of threw myself into the deep end.

“If you can put yourself up against those girls and not be in the best shape, then you shouldn’t have fear about any other races.

“I’m just excited to be back and not watching on TV at home as that has been tough. I’m just glad to be back in that atmosphere.”

l Christine Ohuruogu, Kelly Sotherton, Marilyn Okoro and Nicola Sanders finished fifth at the Bird’s Nest, but were promoted to fourth when Russia were disqualified and moved up again when Belarus’ Sviatlana Usovich tested positive.