Athletics: Scots head for Loughborough intent on boosting Delhi chances

SCOTLAND'S track and field athletes head for the Midlands on Sunday for the first major test of the season, the Loughborough International, where they face England, Wales, GB Under-20s and Loughborough Students.

Delhi Commonwealth Games qualifying standards will be much on their minds as the likes of Dunfermline's Nick Smith, the Scottish 100 metres champion, opens his season. Former New Year Sprint winner Smith needs to clock 10.25 secs or better at least twice to make the Scottish team, a time he should be well capable of given last winter's indoor 60m form.

Another former New Year champion Pat Swan (EAC) has moved up to 400 metres and represents Loughborough.

He needs to achieve 45.5 secs, which is a tough ask, but has the potential to go under 47 seconds for the first time.

Scott Hughson (EAC) is in the Scotland 4 x 400 relay squad, with Kris Robertson getting the individual place.

Pitreavie's Eilidh Child opens her 400m hurdles season with the European Championships in Barcelona in July as her target, the Delhi time of 56.90 already tucked away. Susan McKelvie (EAC) needs a hammer throw of 62.00 metres, a distance she has achieved in the past, though she has still to go over 60m this season.

Despite her fine personal best of 1.77m in the high jump at Wishaw last Sunday, Emma Nuttall (EAC) has missed out on a team spot, the place going to Lucinda Logan (Glasgow).

But Sarah Warnock (EAC) gets her chance in both the long and triple jumps.