Wightman to do battle in Sweden after 10-month wait

Scot Jake Wightman wants to start warming up for the Tokyo Olympics by getting back into the heat of battle tonight.

After flying all the way to Italy last week before finding out his race had been cancelled, the 26-year-old is set to finally kick off his season over 800 metres at the Sollentuna Grand Prix in Sweden.

It is the European and Commonwealth bronze medallist’s first outdoor track outing since coming fifth at last October’s world championships in Doha. Wightman said: “I don’t really want to waste each opportunity I have race-wise because there are going to be so few.

“I’d rather try and get in the best races I can and make them good ones rather than do an open meet just because there’s a track that has one.

“But I’m ready to roll. I’ve been waiting a long time now so I’m ready to get it going.”

Fellow Scot Neil Gourley, who was forced to quit the USA over visa issues, makes his 2020 debut in Sollentuna over 2,000m.

Elsewhere, Josh Kerr’s unbeaten start to the summer was ended in Oregon as he was pipped to victory in the 800m by London 2012 silver medallist Nijel Amos by six-hundreds of a second.

Beth Potter became the fifth quickest British woman of all time by winning the Podium 5k in Lancashire in 15 mins 24 secs as Marc Scott lowered the UK men’s record to 13:20 with Grant Sheldon back in ninth.

“I was definitely out of my comfort zone,” said Potter, who will hunt an Olympic triathlon berth next year.

Scottish record holder Kirsty Law tuned up for the upcoming British Championships by throwing a season’s best of 57.24m to come second in the discus at the Trafford Open.

Jake Wightman is racing outdoors for first time in 10 months.