Athletics: It's Strange's day at Eton

Former Edinburgh AC jumper-hurdler Ali Strange dramatically achieved his much-sought-after second Commonwealth Games pole vault qualifying standard competing for a London club Woodford Green in the British League at Eton.

But Capital medical student Nony Mordi, the Scottish triple jump champion, competing at the same meeting, managed only 13.13 metres compared to the Games target of 13.30m and may not get another chance.

With the selection guillotine due to fall yesterday, Strange, a 27-year-old self-funded Loughborough aeronautical engineering student, cleared the target 5.20 metres height for the second time this season to equal his best ever.

"What a relief - the wind was swirling about quite a lot and I took three attempts to clear five metres (5.00m) but I knew I could do it if I could get my run-up right and I got it on my second attempt," said Strange.

"I've been running on empty as I've been injured most of the summer so now I need to do some training - I know I can get 5.30m in Delhi."

Meanwhile, Edinburgh AC comfortably retained their UK Women's League Division One status for next season, finishing sixth on the day at Eton on Saturday and sixth overall out of eight.

There were personal bests for both Sarah Hood (9:35.43) and Emily Stewart (9:35.60) in the 3000 metres and Katja Eravisto in the 1500m (4:34.32) plus season's bests for Catriona Pennet in the 100m hurdles (14.12), Hope Robertson in the 200 ( 25.31) and Jayne Nisbet, triple jump (10.60).

Freya Murray tuned up for her likely 5000/10,000 metres exploits for Scotland in Delhi in October by winning both the 1500m (4:26.40) and 3000m (9:24.38).