Athletics: Mordi ready to jump to it

CAPITAL medical student Nony Mordi will make a dramatic comeback to big-time athletics at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, tomorrow after a 15-month absence through injury.

The Scottish triple jump champion in 2006 and current Scottish record-holder with a distance of 13.62 metres, Mordi will take part in the UK Championships and official European Trials in a late bid to stake a claim for a place in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October.

Mordi, 23 next month, had a tentative outing two weeks ago when she competed as a guest at the Scottish Under-23 Championships at Grangemouth where she attempted only a shortened run-up.

Mordi, if fit, is capable of jumping well over the qualifying target (13.30m) for Delhi.

Pitreavie hurdles ace Eilidh Child will almost certainly miss the meeting due to a stomach bug which she picked up in Bergen last weekend.

The Edinburgh graduate teacher finished a brilliant runner-up in the 400 metres hurdles event but was unable to take her place in the 4 x 400 relay team the following day.

With the European qualifying time already under her belt, Child's place in the team for Barcelona next month should still be assured.

Lee McConnell, who missed the Bergen meeting to attend a family wedding, is the other Scot already in the frame, although she still has to clock a qualifying time for the flat 400m to make sure of her individual place.

Dunfermline's Nick Smith needs a dramatic performance in the 100m if he is to clinch a sprint relay place but even if he misses out on a GB spot could pick up a Scottish Commonwealth Games qualifying time if conditions are favourable.

City distance runner Freya Murray will be hoping some of the predicted heat will have eased off a bit by the time she contests the 5,000m at 6pm on Sunday.

Murray needs to better 16:35.0 to consolidate the 5k time she performed last season.