Home run is a family affair for Doyle

HOME is where the heart is and Eilidh Doyle has not been a stranger to Scotland during her decade down south. But the Olympic bronze medallist admits the surroundings of Glasgow’s Emirates Arena will feel almost as alien to her as her rivals when runs the 400metres at today’s Muller Indoor Grand Prix.

‘I’ve not raced there much,’ the 31-year-old concedes. ‘An outing at January’s Scottish Open and little more.

‘So it’s nice to come back up and have all my family there when I’m racing.’

The nation’s most-decorated athlete is in good shape to do them proud this afternoon after winning the British title last weekend. But there are bigger fish to fry.

Doyle (right) is aiming to land her third Commonwealth Games medal in April following her plan to capitalise on individual and relay outings at this week’s world indoor championships in Birmingham.

Beyond that, she reveals, will be a longanticipated relocation back to Cumbernauld following eight years in exile in Bath. ‘Whenever I come back to Scotland to train, there is always so much support in terms of the Institute of Sport, the coaching, the facilities,’ she said. The Glasgow field also includes the likes of Elaine Thompson and Dafne Schippers squaring off with Dina Asher-Smith in the 60m and Lynsey Sharp on a rare home outing in the 800m. ‘I’m glad I had my first two races of the year on that track so I could practise for it,’ said Doyle, who meets Jamaican nemesis Kaliese Spencer. ‘I want to go there and run well again.’