Lynsey Sharp runs world class time at Diamond meeting

The Capital ace started her countdown to the Olympic Games in earnest by taking fifth place in a world-class 800 metres in Rabat, seizing top spot in the UK rankings by finishing in 1:59.71.

It was the ideal start for Sharp who saw South Africa’s Caster Semenya take victory in the quickest run in the world this year.

However, with some lessons learnt from missing the final of last year’s World Championships in China, the 2012 European champion confirmed she is unlikely to attempt to regain the title in Amsterdam in July.

“I don’t think so,” she said. “The main aim is obviously the Olympics. I’ve medalled a couple of Europeans before. It’s now about setting it up. After the disappointment of Beijing last year, it’s about focusing on Rio.”

Allan Smith could finish only sixth in the high jump at the Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo with a lone clearance at 2.15m. “It was a horrible performance,” he said. “It rained the whole competition. I almost no-heighted.”

Lasswade’s Guy Learmonth was sixth in the 800m in 1:47.23, outside the Olympic qualifying standard, with Central AC’s Andy Butchart setting a Scottish 5000m record of 13.13.30, despite losing a shoe on the final lap.

Capital hopeful Jake Wightman romped to victory in the 1500m at the Loughborough International with Edinburgh AC club-mates Emily Dudgeon and Sarah Warnock third for Scotland in the 800m and long jump. Teen sprint prospect Cameron Tindle was third in the 200m in a wind-assisted 20.75 seconds, the quickest of his career so far.

Freya Ross was 15th in the Great Manchester Run in 36:29 as Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia won the women’s race. Her fellow Ethiopian, three-time Olympic champion Kenesisa Bekele, took the men’s victory.