Scott clears final hurdle en route to a place in British squad

ALLAN Scott always believed he had what it took to make it to the Olympic Games, even if his own family had their doubts.

It took a final throw of the dice for the 110 metres hurdler from East Kilbride to pull it off, but he probably did enough at the European Athletics Permit meeting in Lougborough on Thursday evening to persuade the British selectors to hand him a ticket to Beijing.

All the 25-year-old Scot has to do now is find tickets for his family to watch him in action. "I really desperately wanted to be in that event," he said. "At the start of the year, I felt very confident of going, and told my folks and my sister, Karen, to get their tickets. But they held off till they saw my first couple of races.

"My folks went to Melbourne, for the Commonwealth Games, but I got injured and didn't run well. I believe some Olympic tickets are held back for the families of athletes. Hopefully, we can get something sorted."

With Chinese pin-up Liu Xiang preparing to defend his title at the Bird's Nest Stadium, the 110 metres hurdles is sure to capture the imagination of the host nation like no other.

The door appeared closing on Scott's opportunity to be part of it. Although he had four B standard qualifying times, Scott had been chasing the A standard mark all year without success. Thursday's low-profile meeting was his very last chance, one he was prepared to pay for himself. It meant that much.

Scott travelled to Lougborough at his own expense, turning down invites to races in Lucerne and Liege which could have earned him money and paid expenses.

"I knew there were heats and finals here, so I'd get two chances." said Scott, who needed to clock under 13.55 seconds. His previous best time was 13.67. But he summoned the strength in his heat to cross the line first in 13.53secs, and almost certainly book his place in the British team alongside Andy Turner. "I knew it was legal inside the wind limit." added Scott. "There was no wind. But I'd a nervous time, waiting to find out officially."

Scott's coach, Stuart Hogg, said: "We've known he's been capable of it for some time and he just had to relax and go out and do it."

Although two A standard qualifying times are required, the World Indoor finalist was second in the British Olympic trial and no hurdler other than Turner has the A qualifying mark. Given the ambiguous nature of the selection criteria, Scott has almost certainly done enough to justify his place.

Fifty three athletes have been selected to represent Team GB in the athletics track and field events so far, and further athletes are expected to be added over the weekend. Last night's Golden League meeting in Paris was a last chance for Susan Scott, the 1,500m runner from Glasgow, to prove herself.