Falkirk Cup Athletics - 2009

Hot off the back of the IAAF World Championships in Berlin come Scotland's own international championships with highlights from the Falkirk Cup athletics meeting from Grangemouth Stadium. An opportunity for top Scottish athletes wearing national vests to take on teams from England, Ireland and Ethiopia plus the Bank of Scotland Development Team. The annual event is staged to give Scotland's talent experience at a high level with a view to next year's Commonweath Games in Delhi and of course Glasgow in 2014. Claire Gibson is captain of the Scottish team. The 800 metre champion has had an outstanding season to date and leads a team including Steph Twell. Some observers regard Twell as the next Paula Radcliffe but after disappointment in Berlin, she will want to prove herself in the final 800 metres leg of the Medley Relay. England's captain is Olympian Craig Pickering, competing in the 100 metres. Colin McCourt, the English athlete who is coached by Liz McColgan in Dundee, will compete over 800 metres. Just back from Berlin, Deirdre Ryan, the Irish high jump record holder who took the national title with a jump of 1.83 metres, is captain of the team from the Emerald Isle. Ethiopia, regarded as the home of distance running, is expected to send strong competition. Team captain is 800 metre specialist Mohammed Aman. The Beijing Paralympics triple gold medallist, 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius from South Africa, makes a special guest appearance over 400 metres. There are ten track races featured, from 100 metres to 3000 metres, with the entertaining Medley Relay rounding off the evening. Field events will be High Jump, Team Triple Jump and Shot Putt. Scotland has won the event for the past three years and will be going out to win again.