Athletics: Injury fear as O’Hare bids for Olympics

Capital middle distance star Chris O’Hare’s Olympic selection bid is in doubt after the 21-year-old Edinburgh AC member strained a hamstring and limped in last in the final of the NCAA 1500 metres at Des Moines, Iowa.

O’Hare (Tulsa University) is due home from the USA tomorrow and the Olympic Trials begin in Birmingham on June 22.

“I felt something in my hamstring and while I could carry on running I couldn’t push with full power,” he said of Saturday’s final when he finished with a time of 3:51.64. “It isn’t too bad and hopefully I can get some treatment ahead of the trials but if there’s too much of a risk I won’t take it.”

One of his home rivals, double Scottish champion Mark Mitchell (Forres) took advantage of the BMC meeting in Watford on Saturday night to post a new best time of 3:42.52 to go fourth on the season’s rankings, while Sarah Hood (EAC) clocked 10:24.94 for the 3000m steeplechase.

Emily Stewart (EAC) ran the 1500m at Watford, clipping two seconds off her best with 4:18.83, while Lynsey Sharp (EAC) turned out in the 800m to finish third in 2:02.00.

Tom Holligan (Firrhill HS) won the Scottish Schools 100 metres at Grangemouth in 10.81 into a -1.1mp/s headwind.