Andy Butchart will bid to continue proving age is just a number when he lines up for the Commonwealth Games 10,000m final at Scotstoun. The Stirling veteran, 34, has delivered some eye-catching displays in recent months and will hope to translate that sort of form onto a home track in front of a vocal crowd.
Recent Resurgence
Butchart, who represented Team GB at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has enjoyed an impressive recent resurgence and set a new Scottish 10km record in Valencia earlier this year. The former parkrun world record holder crossed the line in a time of 27 minutes and 44 seconds before, just one month later, becoming the second fastest ever Scot over half marathon distance with a time of 61 minutes and 45 seconds in Barcelona. That marked a personal best for Butchart and he will now hope to roll back the years once again.
Elliot Jones: From Champions League to Commonwealth Speed
Elsewhere, Elliot Jones swapped the Champions League for Commonwealth speed – and wants to continue that form in his 100m semi-final. The English sprint star, 28, was a late call-up for the Games after the sudden withdrawal of Louie Hinchliffe on Friday. Jones faced an eleventh-hour scramble from his Loughborough base to get up to Scotland in time but showed no signs of fatigue in his 100m heat, running a season’s best time of 10.07 and booking his place in the next round.
Away from the track, Jones works in the venue operations team at UEFA, attending Champions League and Europa League matches at grounds including the Emirates, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and St James’ Park. The diehard Wigan Athletic fan, who hopes to run a sub-10 second time and advance to this evening’s final, said: “It’s been incredible – I only got the call-up late and found out on Friday. Working at UEFA is incredible. But there’s not a footballer who could touch me on the track!”
Jeremiah Azu Eyes Medals
Another Home Nations sprinter bidding to gatecrash the medals is Welsh star Jeremiah Azu, the world indoor champion who also cruised through his heat yesterday morning. Despite the European Championships in Birmingham being just around the corner, patriotic Azu says being selective with his timetable never crossed his mind. Asked why he was here in Glasgow, he said: “To put this Welsh vest on. It’s such a privilege and an honour, and I would never put that opportunity away.”
If he qualifies for the final, Azu will face a tough test against Nigerian speedster Kayinsola Ajayi and Jamaican Oblique Seville, who both starred at the London Diamond League meet last week with red-hot times of 9.84 and 9.87. In the women’s event, England’s Daryll Neita and world 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt will hope to capitalise on the absence of Birmingham 2022 champion Elaine Thompson-Herah and Olympic gold medallist Julien Alfred, who are both not competing here in Glasgow.
Over at the Hydro, Scottish weightlifters Angus Doig, Beth Ashbee and Madeline Rosher will all compete for medals while the swimming and gymnastics also continue in Tollcross and Dalmarnock. Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £33million is raised every week for good causes. It’s because of you sport, arts, heritage and community projects, as well as our athletes competing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, are supported across the UK.
