Scottish rivals are throwing hammer and tongs at London 2012 place

Chris Black, who went to the Olympics in 1976 and 1980, currently holds the record at 75.40 metres.

London 2012 hopeful Mark Dry went close to that last weekend at a meeting in Walnut, California, while Andy Frost’s first throw of the season in Hull was also a decent effort.

But with British rival Alex Smith having thrown 75.63m already this season and only one hammer thrower likely to be called up – if nobody reaches the ‘A’ qualifying standard of 78m – then the Scottish record has to be the clear target for Dry and Frost.

“Mark Dry is getting closer to Chris Black’s all-time Scottish record and it is only just over one metre away now,” said Darren Ritchie, of the scottishathletics coaching staff.

“Throwing over 74 metres gives him the Olympic qualifying ‘B’ standard for Team GB but one of his rivals, Alex Smith, has already thrown beyond 75 metres.”

Caithness-raised Dry, speaking from America after the Mt Sac Relays event in California, said: “It was a life-time best throw for me and the first time I’ve made the Olympic ‘B’ standard. “We’re all fighting for the same spot so it may get a little hairy. I’ve two more competitions in America with the next one on Thursday.”

The performances in the States coincide with an announcement by scottishathletics that Florida-based Northern Irishman Stephen Maguire has been appointed to the new post of director of coaching.