Athletics: Gauson going for Scottish 1,500m title

Capital middle distance runner Darren Gauson has conceded defeat in his quest to qualify for the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

But he is doubly determined to win his third Scottish 1,500 metres title at Pitreavie on Sunday on the second day of the national championships which also double up as the Games trials.

The 28-year-old Edinburgh AC runner, who is a track coach and part-time lecturer at Butler University, Indianapolis, recently returned home to Musselburgh to make a late bid for Games selection and very nearly succeeded when he posted a personal best time of 3:42.16 in Belgium behind Scottish rival Ali Hay, who himself dipped under 3:41.70 to claim the elusive mark.

Gauson said: "I realised this was my last chance to get the time as I've got to fly back on Monday to university to work, it was very unfortunate, but I'll be trying to win that third title on Sunday and it should be a good race."

Central's Ali Hay, the national cross country champion who already has the necessary two Delhi marks to his credit, is bidding for his first 1,500m title and will be the man to beat.

There to support Gauson will be his younger brother Kris, who shared the 1,500m title in 2006 with Ross Toole (another contender this time) and also posted a fast time (3:42.24) in the USA in May, but decided against a Delhi place bid.

The men's 800m promises to be the race of the meeting. There is a fascinating entry of young talent and, though not one of the entrants has approached the tough Delhi qualifying standard of 1:47.80.

Glasgow's Stuart Ross, not 18 till next month, leads the season's rankings with 1:48.73, closely followed by 18-year-old Guy Learmonth (Lasswade) and the 2008 champion 22-year-old Mark Mitchell (EAC), both on 1:49.23.

The 2006 champion Graeme Oudney (Pitreavie), who actually ran 1:47.77 back in 2007 and is still only 25, has been inside 1:50.00 again and cannot be discounted, nor can another former champion Ian Munro (Cambuslang).