Easton wants a fast-track to Beijing

EDINBURGH Athletic Club sprinter Carey Easton will be looking to stake a claim for a place in Great Britain's Olympic squad when she opens her 400 metre campaign at the prestigious Loughborough International meeting on Sunday.

Although she opted out of the final as a precaution due to a tight hamstring, Easton looked strong in winning her 200m heat at Meadowbank last Sunday.

She was unfortunate not to be selected for the British team for last year's World Championship 4x400m squad in Osaka, and wants to join her friend and training partner Lee McConnell in the Beijing squad.

Pitreavie's Eilidh Child tackles the 400m hurdles and, with McConnell now concentrating on the flat 400m – she opens her season in Hengelo a week tomorrow – Child could consolidate her claim to be British No.2 behind Natasha Danvers-Smith. Child will be looking to dip under 57 seconds for the first time after a near-best of 57.29 in Italy last week.

Meanwhile, Dunfermline sprinter Nick Smith has his first outing of the season when he lines up in the 100m, and he could scarcely have chosen tougher opposition.

The 25-year-old three-time Scottish champion and former New Year Sprint winner came back to form indoors earlier this year but, for his outdoor debut, he faces at least two top English sprinters in AAA champion and experienced British internationalist Marlon Devonish and former World Youth champion Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, who, like Smith, has endured three years of problems, but emerged last week to clock a startling personal best of 10.18 seconds in Pavia, Italy at the same meeting where Child won the 400 hurdles.

"It's a hot one to start with," agreed Smith's coach Stuart Hogg, who is just back from a warm-weather training trip to Portugal with Smith, Scottish hurdles star Allan Scot and the two Irish athletes he coaches, 200 metres ace Paul Hession and one-lap specialist Brian Doyle.

"We're looking for a good solid run from Nick to build on his indoor performances and take him forward, he's going well and he's been training well."

Gillian Cooke (EAC) and Nony Mordi (Fife), have, like Smith, hot opposition to handle in the long and triple jumps.

The oft-injured British No.1 Jade Johnson, who has posted a 6.50m long jump already, is Cook's main worry while Mordi, now proud owner of both national and native records, faces another British No.1 in Nadia Williams in the triple jump.