From: SCOTTISH ATHLETICS LTD

SCOTLAND'S TOP SPRINTERS will be lining up for a crack at a true athletics legend at this weekend's Sunday Mail Scottish Championships at Scotstoun, Glasgow.

Four-times champion Susan Deacon and last year's winner Sara Whigham (both Edinburgh Southern) will line up against eight-times Olympic medallist Merlene Ottey in the women's 100m on Saturday.

Though 46, Ottey is still capable of mixing it at international level. Indeed she narrowly missed out on a final place in the European Championships currently taking place in Gothenburg, Sweden.

In the men's 100m, Scottish no1 Nick Smith will have to withstand the challenge of European Junior Champion Craig Pickering of England.  The men's 800m will also provide an opportunity for Scottish athletes to claim an international scalp.

American 1500m champion Alan Webb will race the two lap distance and Graeme Oudney (Pitreavie AAC) and Kevin Kane (Cumbernauld) could well lead the home challenge in Sunday's final.

The women's 400m on Sunday will see AAAs silver medallist Gemma Nicol look to claim her first senior Scottish title.  Amongst her opposition is Olympian Carey Marshall (Edinburgh Southern) after a long-term injury lay off.

GB international Andrew Lemoncello (Fife AC) will be looking to defend his 5000m title before he returns to Florida State University and the collegiate system.  Scottish Cross Country Champion Simon Plummer (Carnegie) is his most likely challenger in Saturday's final.

In the field, Saturday's women's triple jump should attract plenty of interest.  Scottish record-holder Gillian Kerr (Edinburgh Southern), defending champion Katherine Streatfield (Southampton) and Scottish junior record-holder Noni Mordi (Fife AC) are all within a closely matched field.

In the Saturday's men's long jump, Darren Ritchie (Sale Harriers) will be hoping to mark his last ever Scottish Championships appearance with tenth title to cap a fine career.

Occasional training partner James Beckford of Jamaica has decided to forego the event to concentrate on Thursday's Celtic Cup where he will be joined by Ottey, Webb, Darren Campbell and Tyree Washington as international guests.

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