Devil of a challenge awaits Kenney as Scot makes her Great Britain debut

Published on Saturday 20 June 2009 19:37

MAKING her Great Britain debut this afternoon at the European Team Championships, Laura Kenney will have to contend with a radical format, as well as her new elevated surroundings, when she competes in the 5,000 metres. The Sutton-based Scot, who is making her senior bow after a string of fine performances on the domestic circuit, has been lapping up the experience of travelling and training behind the team's more experienced competitors after her unexpected selection. However, she faces a p

"The format's called Devil Take The High Most so I've been told they'll remove the last placed runner with seven, then five, then three laps to go," Kenney explained. "I've never been in a race like that before so I'm not sure what the tactics are. If it's a slow, tactical race, with everyone bunched up, it could get quite exciting. It looks like a strong field. The fastest competitor has done a 14.55 and there are another two with PBs in the low 15 minutes so it will be tough. But it's good to be in that kind of race."

Lee McConnell is set to race alongside Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu in this evening's 400 metre relay while Alison Rodger makes her GB bow in the shot putt, having set two new personal bests already this summer.

"I feel ready to make the step," the 24 year-old Glaswegian declared. "I've always been aiming to peak at the AAAs on 11 July but this is a great opportunity for me to show the selectors what I can do under pressure. There are six of the top 10 in Europe here and I think I'm ranked 11th or 12th. But it's all about what I can do on the day. I'm definitely hoping it can push me to a bigger PB. You don't get the opportunity to get this kind of competition in Scotland and I really want to start pushing out towards 16.50."

The successor event to the European Cup, the championships have attracted criticism for the confusing format with the increase to 12 participating countries, resulting in the need for two separate finals in the major track events. However, with points from the men's and women's results combining for a single title, there was a maximum return from David Greene in the 400m hurdles, producing a flying start to see off his rivals with a time of 49.26 seconds. "Hopefully, I can keep this form going all the way to Berlin," he said. "At the start of the season, I wanted to get under 49 but now I've done that, I'm going to have to re-assess."

Emily Freeman also took victory in the 100 metres.

At the McCain Scottish Championships in Pitreavie, Allan Scott will go in the 110 metre hurdles today as he continues his build-up to the world trials. However, the main attraction will be three-time Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius, who makes his first Scottish appearance in the 200 metres. "I'm still really catching up on training after my boat accident in February," the South African said. "But I've got a lot of races coming up on the Grand Prix circuit and this is one I'd really like to win."

Elsewhere, Scotland's Sandra Bowers finished 25th at the 100km World Cup in Torhout, Belgium in eight hours and 58 minutes. The Winchester-based newcomer, aged 35, is now setting her sights on building on her elite-level debut later in the summer at the Commonwealth championships in Cumbria.