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THE SUMMER TRACK AND FIELD season is launched in earnest this weekend with the East and West District Championships at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.
For several athletes, the competition marks the first steps on the road to next year’s Commonwealth Games. Though they may be ten months away, athletes will have to qualify for the Melbourne-hosted showpiece by making the qualification standards this summer and will be looking to lay down a solid marker this weekend.
Among those dusting off their spikes is Dunfermline sprinter Ian Mackie. The 30-year-old will be looking to put an injury-ruined 2004 behind him as he lines up in the East District 200m event on Sunday.
His real ambitions lie in the 400m this year, but this weekend should still offer a fine insight into how the Colin Jackson-coached runner has wintered. His main opposition should come from Brett Rund (City of Edinburgh) who represented GB at the Norwich Union Indoor International in January.
Olympic hammer thrower Shirley Webb (City of Edinburgh) has already soared over the Commonwealth qualifying mark of 60.00m when winning the B competition at the European Throws Challenge in Turkey in March with 66.88m.
The 23-year-old will be hoping to continue in a similar vein this weekend in the East Championship on Sunday. Also well worth watching is 19-year-old Susan McKelvie (Edinburgh Southern) who recently threw a PB of 58.00m.
One of the weekend’s most intriguing clashes could come in the discus circle, where former GB U23 international Scot Thompson (Belgrave Harriers) takes on Scottish Champion Bruce Robb (Pitreavie AAC) in the East event on Sunday. Both athletes could go close to the 56.00m Commonwealth qualifying mark.
Back on the track, Saturday’s senior men’s 1500m races could provide some of the weekend’s most exciting action.
In the East race Scottish champion Darren Gauson (City of Edinburgh), former GB junior international Kris Berry (Corstorphine AAC) and Scottish cross country champion Robert Russell (Central AC) should enjoy a good scrap.
Whilst in the West event, Scottish internationals Mark Pollard (Inverclyde AC) and Ian Munro (Ron Hill Cambuslang) are closely matched. In the jumps, the pole vault could be the event to watch.
Scottish senior record holder Kirsty Maguire (Edinburgh Southern) and Scottish junior record holder Kim Skinner (Falkirk Victoria) are both entered in the East women’s event on Sunday with GB U23 international Richard Hurren (Falkirk Victoria) in the East men’s on Saturday.
source SAF
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