Team Scotland has today announced a 33-strong athletics team to compete at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The announcement confirms the selection of a further 22 athletes to the squad following the pre-selection of six athletes, including Olympic medallists Laura Muir and Josh Kerr, last year and five para-athletes including Paralympic medallist Samantha Kinghorn MBE last month.

The team reflects a strong Scottish presence in global athletics and includes 11 athletes set to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the upcoming World Championships in Eugene later this month.

Those added to the team include Guy Learmonth (800m), Zoey Clark (400m and 4x400m Relay), David Smith (High Jump) and hammer throwers Chris Bennett and Mark Dry, who will all compete in their third Games, alongside pre-selected Jake Wightman (800m and 1500m) and Eilish McColgan (5,000m and 10,000m).

There’s a strong sprints presence for the first time in many years with places for Alisha Rees and Adam Thomas at 100m, Beth Dobbin in the 200m and Heather Paton in the 100m Hurdles.

Team Scotland will also field both 4x400m and 4x100m women’s relay teams with Loughborough-based Carys McAulay and Jill Cherry included specifically for the 4x400m alongside Zoey Clark, Nicole Yeargin and Beth Dobbin. Heather Paton, Rebecca Matheson, Sarah Malone and Taylah Spence will make-up a strong 4x100m team alongside Alisha Rees.

Wheelchair racer Sean Frame will compete in the marathon on Saturday 30 July to kick-start the athletics action – with the track and field sessions opening on the morning of Tuesday 2 August at the redeveloped Alexander Stadium.

Unfortunately Steph Davis, who finished top half of the women’s marathon in Tokyo last year and was selected for Birmingham earlier this year, has had to withdraw from the Games due to a foot injury.

Commenting on her selection, Olympic 1,500m silver medallist Laura Muir said ‘I’ve seen my own situation around Birmingham described as ‘unfinished business’ and I have to agree with that,’ she said.

“I was very young at Glasgow 2014 but it still didn’t go the way I had hoped in that 1500m final at Hampden. Four years later, as Gold Coast 2018 came around, I was in the very last stages of completing my degree at University and the final exams clashed with the Commonwealths.

“So that has been in my mind for some time and I’d dearly love to win a medal for Team Scotland at Birmingham 2022. Getting on that podium wearing the Scotland vest is very much a goal.

“My family will be here and there’s a large contingent making travel plans. When you get that family support in the stadium it can mean so much. It’s not Glasgow and it’s not Scotland but it is as close as you can get, really, so I am really looking forward to having that backing in the Alexander Stadium.”

Edinburgh 100m sprint star Alisha Rees is looking forward to taking to the track at Alexander Stadium this summer after narrowly missing out on selection for Gold Coast four years ago. “Being selected to represent Scotland has been my main aim this season. I cannot wait to go out there and represent in Birmingham as I think it is going to be a really special occasion.

“I have come full circle. Ever since I went to the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa in 2015, it’s meant there has been a big build-up for me to the Commonwealth Games and I am really happy I have managed to achieve selection. I’m really looking forward to getting out there and showing everyone what I’ve got.”

Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss said “A huge congratulations to all the track and field athletes selected to compete in Birmingham this summer. It is great to see such a strong team travelling to the Games – a team which has a real mix of strength, depth and experience.

“Scottish athletics is strong on the world stage at the minute and I am delighted that 11 of the team have been selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Eugene at the World Championships later this month. I have no doubt that it will set the stage perfectly for what is going to a be an electric competition in Birmingham.”

The Team Scotland athletics squad for Birmingham is led by Team Manager Julie Mollison and Head Coach Mark Pollard. “We’re delighted with the Team Scotland selection announcement and 33 athletes now confirmed for Birmingham 2022,’ said Mark.

“Being picked for Scotland for a Commonwealth Games is always an exciting moment and we congratulate athletes, their coaches and their families on selection. We acknowledge, too, the huge role played by numerous Scottish clubs in the development of these athletes over a number of years.

“It bears repetition on these occasions that success in athletics isn’t achieved overnight or anything like it. In so many cases, this is the culmination of many years of hard work, good coaching and development work by clubs along the pathway.”

Full Athletics Squad

Chris Bennett – Hammer

Andy Butchart – 5,000m and 10,000m

Zoey Clark – 400m and 4x400m Relay

Jill Cherry – 4x400m Relay

Beth Dobbin – 200m and 4x400m Relay

Mark Dry – Hammer

Sean Frame – T54 Marathon

Neil Gourley – 1,500m and 5,000m

Will Grimsey – High Jump

Sarah Inglis – 5000m and 10000m

Josh Kerr – 1500m

Samantha Kinghorn MBE – T54 1500m

Kirsty Law – Discus

Guy Learmonth – 800m

Rebecca Matheson – 4x100m Relay

Sarah Malone – 4x100m Relay

Carys McAulay – 4x400m

Eilish McColgan – 5000m and 10000m

Laura Muir – 800m and 1500m

Ross Paterson – T38 100m

Heather Paton – 100m Hurdles and 4x100m Relay

Nick Percy – Discus

Jemma Reekie – 800m and 1500m

Alisha Rees – 100m and 4x100m Relay

Jenny Selman – 800m

David Smith – High Jump

Taylah Spence – 4x100m Relay

Adam Thomas -100m

Alexander Thomson – T38 100m

Eloise Walker – 5000m

Jake Wightman – 800m and 1500m

Melanie Woods – T54 1500m

Nicole Yeargin – 400m and 4x400m Relay