SPORT IN BRIEF
ATHLETICS Andrew Butchart plans to get his 2017 season off to a flyer when he opens up his indoor campaign in tonight’s New Balance Grand Prix in Boston,
The Olympic 5,000 metres finalist, who cut his cross-country season short to go on a training stint in the United States, faces Rio 2016 silver medallist Paul Chelimo at the meeting which is part of the IAAF World Indoor Tour.
And the Scot, yet to decide whether to target March’s European Indoor championships, believes he can hit the ground running.
“All is good,” Butchart said. “I’ve been in Flagstaff for the past month at altitude. Ithink I’m in decent shape.”
Lynsey Sharp begins her season at the same meeting by taking on world and European champion Marina Arzamasova over 800m while Jake Wightman meets Olympic gold medallist Matt Centrowitz in the mile.
Meanwhile, Guy Learmonth believes his decision to head homeward will reap dividends ahead of his first outing in Vienna this afternoon. The 800m specialist quit Loughborough to base himself in Berwick this winter and the move, he says has lifted his hopes. BASKETBALL Anthony Elechi expects Glasgow Rocks to emerge with king-sized chips on their collective shoulders tomorrow and prove they can reign supreme over London Lions,
Nine days after losing 70-67 at the Copper Box, Sterling Davis’s men get an opportunity for vengeance and the chance to pull ahead of one of their rivals in British basketball’s title race.
“We can definitely make adjustments,” Elechi said. “We see the mistakes we made that we can fix this time. London’s a great team so we have to come out and compete. We’re still in third place. We’re in a great spot actually. Ifeel like in some ways those losses will help us because we’ll come out swinging now with our backs against the wall.” ICE HOCKEY Jacob Johnston eyed this weekend’s tough double-header and declared: “These are two huge games for us.”
Edinburgh Capitals travel to play-off rivals Coventry Blaze tonight for the first time in the league this season and host Manchester Storm, who are also in the play-off mix, tomorrow,
Coach Michal Dobron revealed that Capitals could be at full-strength.
Elsewhere, Fife Flyers visit Braehead Clan (face-off 7pm) looking for their first win in Glasgow in the league this term.
Second-bottom Dundee Stars are at seventh-placed Manchester Storm (face-off 7pm) looking for a second road win there this season.