Farah finally signs up for Glasgow
MO FARAH last night gave this summer’s Commonwealth Games a massive boost by finally confirming he will compete for England at Hampden. The double Olympic champion is likely to go for gold in the 1,500metres, 5,000m or 10,000m after his marathon debut in London last month resulted in a disappointing eighth-place finish. Farah, 31, could even attempt another long-distance double in front of what are sure now to be sell-out Glasgow crowds. His announcement, made on his Twitter page yesterday, is a significant fillip to the track and field programme at the Games, given the absence of Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill, who is pregnant with her first child, and the continued uncertainty about whether Usain Bolt will
run. Farah tweeted: ‘Hi guys! I will be running in the Commonwealth Games this year! See you in Glasgow! ‘Haven’t decided which events to compete in Commonwealth Games yet ... 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m? Will let you know as soon as I decide!’ Farah had planned to test his track speed at Hampden when he competes in a ‘special event’ at the Diamond League meeting on July 12, just 15 days before the athletics programme starts at the Commonwealth Games, but the decision has been brought forward after Team England confirmed their selection panel will meet on June 2. It also ruled out the possibility of Farah being selected ‘subject to fitness’, even though he is still in recovery after his marathon debut on April 13. The double world champion finished more than four minutes behind winner Wilson Kipsang in London, prompting his coach, Alberto Salazar, to suggest Farah delays his move up to the marathon until after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Meanwhile, one of the home nation’s best hopes of track success in Glasgow, Eilidh Child, is to pull a double shift next weekend by competing for Scotland over 400m at the annual Loughborough International, 24 hours after racing the 200m hurdles at the Great City Games in Manchester. The world championship medallist, who was third in last Friday’s Diamond League in Doha, headlines a 38-strong team for the traditional curtain raiser to the domestic campaign.