The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Don’t look back in anger
Dry determined to use funding loss as motivation in Birmingham
Burghead hammer thrower Mark Dry aims to channel his frustration and anger over being ditched from the UK athletics lottery funding programme into producing a worldclass performance at this weekend’s British championships in Birmingham.
The 29-year-old Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and Olympic semi-finalist needs to finish in the top two and achieve a qualifying distance of 76m to guarantee his place on Team GB for next month’s London world championships.
It might seem a tall order for the Loughborough-based Scot, who has returned from careerthreatening shoulder and hip injuries, but Dry is fired up and more than ready for the challenge.
He said: “My injuries were so bad that the surgeon I saw was amazed I was able to do what I did in Rio. People told me I was finished but I didn’t accept that and I fought my way back, although I was disgusted at the decision to cut my funding and medical support.
“I was really pleased to make my comeback at the Loughborough international in May and win. Beforehand, people were betting on whether I’d be able to throw at all. Even if I did, they wondered if I’d manage 60 or 65m, so to get first with 71.73 was pleasing.
“My best is 76.93 and I believe I can get back to that level. I want to qualify for London but I’m running a bit short of time.
“The ideal scenario this weekend would be to finish in the top two and get the qualifying standard, or to at least put in a performance good enough for a top-32 ranking, which would then earn me an IAAF invite to the championships.
“It’s going to be tough. Nick Miller, Chris Bennett and Taylor Campbell are ahead of me and a bunch of others not far behind. If I don’t get the standard there’s still time to qualify.”
Loughborough-based Inverness discus thrower Kirsty Law, meanwhile, will be aiming for a medal at Birmingham this weekend.
The nine-time Scottish senior champion may not be a contender for world
“People were betting on whether I’d be able to throw” “I’m feeling good and confident going into this competition” “Rees will compete in the women’s 200m race”
selection but she will be in the mix for the podium.
Law sits joint third with Amy Holder (Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) in this season’s UK rankings with a best throw of 54.27m.
She may not threaten Shaftesbury Barnet’s Jade Lally, who tops the rankings with 65.15, but secondplaced Eden Francis (Leicester) is catchable with 57.53.
Aberdeen AAC’s Jade MacLaren carries realistic hopes of reaching the final of the women’s 800m after hitting peak form at just the right time.
The former Scottish indoor champion recorded a personal best 2:06.63 in Geneva this month and then, last weekend, at a British Milers Club meeting at Watford, she clocked 2:04.40, which broke the Aberdeen AAC women’s record of 2:05.11 set by Nicola Gauld 11 years ago.
It may require further improvement to reach the last eight in Birmingham but MacLaren has shown she is heading in the right direction.
Aberdeen AAC’s Daniel Rees will aim to pick up valuable championship experience when he competes in the men’s 400m hurdles.
The University of Aberdeen athlete got his season off to a flying start by recording a personal best 52.95sec when striking silver at the British universities and colleges championships in May. Aberdeen AAC’s Zoey Clark has a clear objective when she competes in the 400m at this weekend’s British track and field championships in Birmingham.
Finish in the top two and a place on Team GB for August’s world championships in London will be guaranteed.
The 22-year-old sprinter, who recently graduated with a first-class honours degree in chemical engineering from the University of Aberdeen, will go into the trials high in confidence as she tops the British rankings with a personal best time of 51.84sec set in Geneva this month.
Clark suffered a slight setback last weekend when she pulled out of the Great Britain 4x400m relay team competing in the European team championships in Lille but the Aberdeen athlete insists there’s nothing to worry about.
She said: “I tweaked my back in the gym. It wasn’t too serious but there was no point in taking any risks, so I decided it was best to withdraw from the team.
“I’m going to be fine for this weekend. I’m feeling good and confident going into this competition. I’d also hope to be selected for the 4x400m relay squad.”
Clark is no stranger to international success having been part of the Great Britain 4x400m relay squads which won the European under-20 title in 2011 and the under-23 title in 2015.
The opportunity to go on and do the same at senior level this summer, in what would be her first senior world championship appearance, will undoubtedly drive her on this weekend.
Regardless of the outcome at Birmingham, another global championship opportunity has already landed on Clark’s doorstep with her selection for the Great Britain team for this summer’s World University Games in Chinese Taipei from August 19 to 30.
The Aberdonian says she has a hard decision to make over this one, adding: “I’m interested but a final decision will have to be made after this weekend’s trial as the University Games come soon after the world championships in London.”
Clark is joined in a fiercely competitive 400m field this weekend by her Aberdeen clubmate Kelsey Stewart, who is celebrating her selection for the British 4x400m relay squad for next month’s European under-23 championships in Poland.
Stewart earned her selection after winning the English title in her age group at Bedford earlier in the month, where she recorded a lifetime best of 53.63
Stewart said: “It’s going to be really tough to get anywhere near making the final but I’ll give it a go.”