Athletics: Learmonth pledges to lead from the front indoors

Lasswade's Guy Learmonth (800 metres) and Ross Matheson (1500m) along with Capital long jumper Alan Hamilton, will all be competing for the Glasgow Cobras in the McCain Indoor City Challenge in Sheffield on Sunday.

In effect the Cobras, led by former Commonwealth Games medallist Chris Baillie (60m hurdles) and Lee McConnell (200m), are a Scottish Select for what promises to be some sharp competition, with more than 30,000 on offer in prize money over the series.

Other teams include Manchester Warriors, London North Lions, London South Sharks, Sheffield Flames and Newcastle Angels.

Learmonth, with his sixth Scottish Indoor under-20 record of 1:49.62 already in the bag after last Sunday's Cardiff meeting, is looking to go even faster this weekend.

The 18-year-old Loughborough University student again faces Cardiff's Joe Thomas, last week's victor in 1:49.19, the fastest in the country so far, plus the UK Indoor champion Andrew Osagie, the North of England champion Paul Bradshaw and Ben Wallis (London).

"It's a high quality field and a great tester for the AAA Championships next weekend," said Learmonth.

"I'll lead from the front this time - it's my favourite way to race," he added.

Matheson, like Learmonth only 18, has an equally formidable task with the UK Indoor champion James Thie (Cardiff, best of 3:37.06) leading the entry. Hamilton, meanwhile, who has twice improved his indoor long jump best in successive meetings, will be looking to go beyond 7.15m.

Craig Fleming - the top-rated runner in the New Year Sprint (3m) - goes in the 60m for Cobras while Pitreavie's Stacey Downie contests the women's 60m. But it will be McConnell's outing in the 200m which will most interest, as the tall, long striding Glaswegian, who seldom runs indoors, attempts to lead by example.