Chris O'Hare will leave nothing to chance in World bid

The Lothians middle distance ace, 25, admits he is still scarred by events in Beijing last summer when he crashed out of the outdoor World Championships in the semi-finals after getting his tactics completely wrong.

With one eye on this summer’s Olympic Games, it is time to prove he is capable of adding to the two European bronzes already stashed away.

He was today praying for a kind draw to stop his first race at the Oregon Convention Center from becoming a lottery.

“The final is only nine people instead of 12 and it’s only three to qualify from each heat plus three fastest losers,” the Edinburgh Athletic Club runner said. “The first heat is unlikely to be faster because the ones in the second know what they have to do. It adds a touch of complexity to the qualification process.

“It’s annoying if you’re fourth in heat one and know someone else could end up sixth in heat two and beat you out of the final.”

There’s been a lot of hard graft over the winter to make good things happen for O’Hare who, like GB&NI team-mate Lynsey Sharp, has made his training hub in Boston US where coach Terrence Mahon is based.

He is also now settled into married life there with new bride Meredith who he met while at university in Oklahoma. “That’s given me a whole extra reason to deliver the goods,” O’Hare revealed.

“Meredith and I were living together in Boston before we got married. So after the honeymoon we went back and it felt the same. But it’s great to be in that kind of relationship where we know we have each other’s back.

“She’s always there for me whether I have a good training session or a bad race or anything. It adds another level of stability, and for our sport, that and routine are important. It’s another motivation for me as well, making sure I provide for my family.”

Several British medal contenders are in action on the first full day in Portland with Morgan Lake opening up this evening in the pentathlon and James Dasaolu starting his 60 metres bid.

And O’Hare, whose heat is at 1.20am UK time tonight, insists he won’t be holding back in his quest to safely reach Sunday’s final.

“Now we’re here and we’re ready for it,” he declared. “I’ll give it everything and hopefully qualify for Sunday and do my best to come away with the best possible result.”