Athletics: Lynsey makes Sharp move up rankings in Morocco

Though still chasing the UK Athletics A Olympic qualifying standard of 1:59.90, Lynsey Sharp (Edinburgh AC) moved to third on the British rankings for the season when she finished fourth in the 800 metres in a time of 2:01.12 in Rabat, Morocco last night.

Only 12th fastest of the field of 13, Sharp surprised even herself when she found she was in contention after going through the bell in 58 seconds and the 600m mark in 89 seconds. She got boxed in, though, and was unable to thread her way through, though still delighted with her time which only England’s Marilyn Okoro and Emma Jackson have bettered this season.

Jay Younger (EAC), who is still only 18, chopped nearly half a second off his best time in finishing second in the 400m in 47.62, the second fastest by a UK junior this season, in the Flanders Cup meeting in Oordegem, Belgium on Saturday night.

“It’s a good breakthrough for him,” commented Scottish endurance coach Mike Johnstone. Capital-based Scottish No. 1 Jamie Bowie was second in a separate 400m race in a season’s best of 47.15, while Gemma Nicol (Dunfermline) was fourth in the women’s 400m in 53.64.

Eilish McColgan (Dundee) was only just over three seconds outside her own Scottish National record in winning the 3000m steeplechase in 9:48.09 in the same meeting and just 0.09sec outside the Olympic qualifying B standard.

It was the 21-year-old student’s first race in the event since she broke a bone in her foot setting the record in London nine months ago. Fellow Scot Sarah Hood (EAC) was fifth in 10:36.49. At the same meeting Capital physio Al Hay (Central) set a season’s best of 3:44.43 in the 1500m and Kath Evans (EAC) was second in the 800m in 2:10.31.

Freya Murray (EAC) was fifth in the BUPA London 10k road race yesterday but still picked up a useful £600. Team GB Olympic marathon selection Mara Yamouchi won in 32:52 to take the £2000 first prize while World 5000m champion Mo Farah took the men’s race in 29:21.