FOR the first time ever, Scots claimed all three podium spots as well as fourth place in the 1500 metres at the British Championships team trials.
Following yesterday’s stunning results, Scotland will have a record number of athletes at the London 2017 World Championships Eilidh Doyle, Zoey Clark, Chris O’Hare and Steph Twell all ensured their spots with gold medals, meanwhile Josh Kerr and Eilish McColgan secured places too.
But it came close to not happening for O’Hare, as the Edinburgh runner made a late decision to run.
He finally took to the start line only after intensive treatment from his coach and physio and even then the Olympian had doubts about his prospects against a posse of compatriots who have metaphorically been snapping at his heels and were set to do so for real.
“Warming up was scary,” he revealed afterwards.
“I spent most of it on the physio bed just trying to not have it cramp up on me when I do a stride.
“That was worrying and I wasn’t entirely sure I was going to start and at the start I wasn’t entirely sure I was going to finish.
“Thankfully it was slow and I could just focus on keeping my knee drive up and not working my hamstrings up all that much.
“Then with 300 to go I just thought ‘This is training now, I’ve just got to get it done like I do there.’ It was sore in the last 100 but not sore enough.”
What he had to weigh up was the risk of doing longer term, potentially season-wrecking damage in the context of the chance that along with his record he might be able to do enough at next week’s Anniversary Games in London to convince the selectors to give him the third available place on the World Championship team, alongside those qualifying automatically by finishing first or second place.
“There’s that discretionary spot on the team and the thought goes through your head as to whether it would be better to not run, have a good race in London next week and try to prove I’m one of the best as opposed to run today, blow out the hamstring and the season be done,” O’Hare noted.
Instead he can now relax and focus on using next weekend at the Olympic Stadium, to prepare for the bigger gathering there later this summer.
“Next weekend’s a good opportunity to see the stadium, run for the crowd and just have fun,” O’Hare said.
Naturally he admitted to considerable satisfaction at having found enough to put the whipper-snappers in their place with Josh Kerr, formerly trained by O’Hare’s father, snatching second from Jake Wightman, the form horse coming into the Championships, while Glasgow’s Neil Gourley claimed fourth place.
“I was looking at the start list and thought: ‘I’m actually the second oldest guy in this field. That’s the first time that’s ever happened,’ so it was good to lead the young guys and show them the old dad has still got some tricks up his sleeve,” the veteran of 26 joked afterwards.
It is Wightman, then, who faces a nervous week, wondering if he has done enough already this season or can confirm his place next weekend.
“I’m gutted by that. I was going for the win obviously, so when Chris went I knew it was hard to get. I thought second but Josh just got me in the end. I didn’t see him so I didn’t have a clue, but I wouldn’t have been able to stop him he was coming so quick.
“I don’t know if they’re going to make London (the Muller Anniversary Games) a run off, which I hope they don’t because I’d quite like that to be it.
“I thought the selection would make today if I got the top two, but I’ve put myself in a rubbish position now,” he added. “It just would have been nice to know today whether I’m in or not. It’s going to be a horrible next week now, but that’s my own fault. I had it in my own hands.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here