Athletics: O’Hare running for US title

EDINBURGH athlete Chris O’Hare (Tulsa University) opens his bid in Des Moines, Iowa, later today to add the American NCAA 1500 metres title to the indoor title he won earlier this year.

With five to qualify for the final on Saturday, O’Hare (Edinburgh AC) has been drawn in the same semi-final as his rival Miles Batty (Brigham Young), the defending champion.

Regardless of the outcome the 21-year-old intends to return to Scotland to prepare for the UK Olympic Trials in Birmingham from June 22-24.

Another promising young Scottish middle-distance runner, Guy Learmonth (Lasswade), gets his chance to run in the famous Bislett Games in Oslo tonight.

Learmonth, who has a best of 1:47.65, runs in an invitation 800m, although it will take place in the early part of the meeting before the television coverage of the Diamond League meeting begins.

Dundee’s Eilish McColgan goes in the steeplechase at the same meeting with a very real chance of achieving an Olympic qualifying standard.