Dobbin prepared to handle heat in Doha

Fife athlete Beth Dobbin expects to do more than simply breaking a sweat when she kicks off her season in today’s opening Diamond League meeting in Doha.

“It’s going to be disgustingly warm,” the 27-year-old sprinter declared.

“I’m not actually great with the heat. At the Worlds in 2019, It was unbearable, we were on really late at night. Whereas this time, it’s not that late. So it’s going to be scorching.”

But if that’s what it takes to achieve red-hot form in mid-summer, says the Scottish 200 metres record holder, then she will soak it up.

Dobbin is diving straight in at the deep end with a field that includes the UK’S defending world champion Dina Asher-smith and the USA’S Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Gabby Thomas.

“If I’m serious about making finals, and racing the best in the world, or the best in Europe, wherever that is, I need to be putting myself on the line with these girls,” said Dobbin, whose last competitive outing was last September following her semi-final exit at the Olympics.

“Would I have probably preferred a lower-key opener? Potentially. But I’m the type of athlete that performs well under pressure.

“And, a lot of the races that I find myself in now are high pressure. Ever since 2018, when I had my breakthrough, it’s completely changed.

“I was doing UK women’s leagues, and then all of a sudden you’re in the Diamond Leagues and European finals, all that sort of stuff. So I think I’ve just got used to it really fast.”

The targets for peak summer are three-fold: World Championships, Commonwealth Games and European Championships.

Individual shots, plus relays. The latter two showpieces offer the greatest medal potential, admits Dobbin, who has made significant strides since bursting onto the scene with seventh in the 2018 Euro final in Berlin.

Some, including former British Athletics sprint supremo Stephen Maguire, have urged Dobbin to take a leap of faith and jump up to the 400m as the Paris 2024 Olympics cycles into view. Toes may be dipped in the water, she confirms, but not a full ice bath.

She said: “I think when I feel like I’ve achieved what I want, I’ll obviously give the 400m a go.

“I know I’ve got a lot of potential there. But I just want to fulfil my potential over the 200. And I don’t think I’ve quite done it yet.”

Following her injury-disrupted Olympics that saw her left with only a relay bronze, Asher-smith will look for a positive performance in Doha following two local meetings in London last month.

Meanwhile, Perth Strathtay Harrier Sol Sweeney has his sights set on a 5,000 metres spot with Team Scotland at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

So far his results this season are looking favourable for Sweeney, who is one of Scotland’s top distance runners.

Last month he had a great run in Motherwell, winning the Tom Scott Memorial Round the Loch six kilometre race.

The endurance athlete continues to be an inspiration for young Harriers and is hoping his good form can gain him Commonwealth Games selection.