HIS front-running exploits have earned admiration across the globe and Callum Hawkins is aiming to “mix it” with the best when he gets the chance to compete in front of a partisan crowd at the World Championships this summer.

The 24-year-old Kilbarchan man, who shot to prominence in the running world at last year’s Olympics in Rio, has sustained the form that ultimately earned him a ninth-placed finish there, with a memorable win at the Great Scottish Run followed up by excellent performances in half marathons in Japan and New York.

His form was such that he missed out on this year’s London Marathon, which doubled as a qualifying event for the British World Championship team because he had already secured his place and could relax, while compatriot Robbie Simpson was successfully battling to join him.

However, that only seems to have stimulated Hawkins’ appetite for racing on the streets of the capital as he indicated during a break from training to present the Lindsays Trophy for cross country participation in Scotland to Giffnock North AAC on behalf of Scottish Athletics.

“The plan for the World Champs is just to get out there and mix it again,” he said.

“Hopefully I can go there and improve on what I did in Rio. But you never know in a championship and especially in the marathon. Anything can happen and, of course, I will be up against the world’s best.

“I know the home support will be crazy. The London Marathon itself is a bit nuts in terms of the crowd so I can only imagine what it will be like for a World Championship.

“I think British athletes are feeding off these ‘home Games’ opportunities. You only have to look at how a number of Scots have kicked on since Glasgow 2014. That was the catalyst for some of us and it has really sparked something.”

Hawkins was back in Scotland after a training stint in the United States ahead of his next race, the Great Manchester Run 10K on May 28. And while there was a minor disruption to his plans when a slight hamstring strain forced him off the track in a 10,000m race in California last week, he said it was just a precaution.

Having won the individual Scottish Cross Country title for a second time this year, he was meanwhile pleased to be able to play a part in recognising the achievement of the club that has got more people involved in that discipline than any other in Scotland this season – with Giffnock having topped a table tallying the number of finishers by clubs at three major National XC events across the 2016-17 season at Cumbernauld, Renfrew and Falkirk.

“I’m delighted to get involved with presenting the Lindsays Trophy to Giffnock North because cross country means a lot to me,” said Hawkins.

“It is how I started in the sport, in fact looking back all of my early success was in cross country rather than on the road or the track. My first Scotland vest and my first GB and NI vest came in cross country.

“I raced Falkirk again this year and enjoyed it. The Lindsays Cross Country series is growing year-on-year which is good for the sport. I think what is happening is people are losing any fear of competing. Clubs are getting better numbers out and then they compete with each other.

“Cross country gives you a great base for the year so I’d always advise young athletes to get involved and get out there and enjoy it and race.

“I think, on the day of the Lindsays National XC at Falkirk, you can really feel the growth of the sport and the sheer number of club vests on show is great.”