Athletics: MacLean pain in the rain

Scotland's new national pole vault record-holder, Gregor MacLean, did, as promised, have a second try in Finland at improving the height, but was thwarted by rain.

After clearing 5.12 metres, the 19-year-old former Edinburgh AC star, fearing the weather, put the bar straight up to 5.32m, two centimetres more than the record he set a week yesterday.

But after one try when he twisted his ankle, Maclean called it a day as the rain descended.

Glasgow's Jax Thoirs again cleared 4.80m and just failed to make the European Junior Championship qualifying height of 5.00m, but there is no doubt that Scottish pole vaulting is on the up and up.

In a commendable initiative, Scottish Athletics have decided to stage the Scottish pole vault Championship in Glasgow's city centre in George Square a week today, the evening before the full championship weekend at Scotstoun Stadium.