Athletics: Dudgeon leads Scots in Junior bid

By SANDY SUTHERLAND
Published on 10/07/2012 12:00

The much-improved Capital middle distance runner Emily Dudgeon (Edinburgh AC) gets her chance to run in the 
Olympic Stadium later today.

But it is the venue of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona where the Cambridge University medical student will be in action.

Dudgeon goes in heat three of the first round of the women’s 800 metres at the World Junior Championships, where she is one of four Scots in the British team.

The Mary Erskine’s FP, who has chopped her best by four seconds this season and is the AAA Under-20 champion, goes into the event as sixth fastest overall thanks to her time of 2:03.28 achieved in running for Scotland in the Loughborough International last May. She is second fastest in her heat behind the Jamaican Simoya Campbell who has a best of 2:03.07 and should progress if she can repeat the sort of form she displayed in finishing fourth in the recent UK senior trials won by clubmate Lynsey Sharp.

Fellow Brit Jessica Judd, third in the senior trials, is second fastest in the field with 2:01.09 behind the Ukrainian Anastasiya Thachuk, whose best of 2:00.37 is actually faster than Olympics-bound Sharp.

But both British women are capable of a medal, with the determined Judd possibly the favourite.

Dundee’s Laura Muir goes in the 3000m, which is a straight final tomorrow, and is also in with a medal chance as her best of 9:12.80 is third fastest with GB teammate Emilia Gorecka second fastest (9:10.31).

Capital flyer Tom Holligan (EAC) has to wait till Friday to get his chance of a run in the heats of the 4x100m relay.

New sprint sensation Adam Gemili, who has also been named in the British Olympic senior team, opens his account in the 100m today.