Athletics: Murray and Hay step up Delhi prep

Capital Commonwealth Games athletes Freya Murray and Al Hay will both take to the roads this weekend as they attempt to maintain their track fitness for Delhi early next month.

Murray (Edinburgh AC) will join fellow Scot Andrew Lemoncello (Fife) in the Great Yorkshire 10K Run in Sheffield on Sunday where she will have the chance of revenge over Charlotte Purdue, the young English runner who defeated her over 5,000 metres in Cardiff last weekend when Murray still clocked a personal best of 15:26.5.

With prize money of 500 for first, down to 150 for fourth, there is also a decent cash incentive. This will be Murray's second last race before the Scottish team leave for Delhi.

Lemoncello, who turned down the chance to go to the Commonwealth Games to concentrate on his build-up for the marathon in London 2012, will use the Sheffield race as part of his preparation for the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan in December where he hopes the conditions will be suitable for a really fast time.

Hay has a 1,000 first prize to aim for in the Middlesbrough International Road Mile on Sunday, with 750 for second down to 250 for fourth but he will also have stiff opposition, notably from last year's winner Ricky Stevenson (Teesside).

Ross Matheson (Lasswade), who won the senior 1,500 metres at the final Scottish League meeting at Grangemouth, gets his chance in the small Scottish team in the junior race.

Having missed out on Commonwealth Games selection, Dunfermline's Nick Smith seeks consolation in bidding for an amazing tenth title in a row in the 100 yards at the annual Braemar Gathering later today.