Athletics: Personal Bests on the line as 400m hopefuls stage reunion

SCOTLNAD'S two leading female athletes, Commonwealth Games medallists Lee McConnell and Eilidh Child, will meet over 400 metres in the Scottish National Championships at Scotstoun on Sunday.

The former and current national record-holders of the 400 metres hurdles have clashed twice over the barriers, back in 2007, but this will be the first time they have met on the flat.

Fellow Delhi Commonwealth Games relay squad member Gemma Nicol is also entered and it promises to be the race of the meeting.

Child is desperate to improve her best time for the flat: "My best is 53.71 secs and goes back to 2008 - it's due an update," says the 24-year-old Pitreavie club member, who was timed at 52.20 secs for her flying start relay leg in Delhi and is clearly capable of going under 53 secs.

Child refuses to put a figure on her target or even entertain the idea that she could beat her much-vaunted Glasgow opponent, who has already run 51.6 for the distance this season.

"I'm just going to go out and run a "PB" and the closer I can get to Lee the better chance I have."

Nicol, who has a best of 53.46 from back in 2006, may have something to say about the runners-up position and it would be good to see all three athletes under 53 seconds. "It will be a nice reunion for the 4 x 400 girls," agrees Child.

The fourth member of the quartet who finished fifth in the Delhi final, Kathryn Evans, may opt for the 800 metres this weekend.