ANDREW BUTCHART has urged UK Athletics to pick him for the forthcoming world championships today, after revealing his high-speed comeback from breaking his leg just six weeks ago.
The two-time Olympic 5,000 metres finalist believes he has done enough to earn a ticket to Oregon with the British squad due to be named this afternoon.
The 30-year-old came fourth at last weekend’s trials in Manchester in his first race since early March. But Butchart – fiancé of ex-European champion Lynsey Sharp – admits it has been a race against time to get back on track.
He said: “I was waiting to go on training camp and I went to see my physio and he was like ‘you've got a broken leg.’ Lynsey was happy because I got to go home for a month to help out but it was just one of these freak things.
“I don't know what it was – nutrition, or doing too much with the baby, the dog, everything at home. There's still a lot to take on. But it’s healed. I have no pain. I'm running fine and building fitness.
“I missed five races that I was meant to race. I was meant to open up in middle of May. Now it's almost July for my first race. But it's a big summer. I've already got Commonwealth Games. Hopefully, I can get some more races done. It's not over just yet. It's just frustrating.”
With only new British champion Marc Scott, plus Sam Adkin, inside the world qualifying standard, Butchart is eligible for the third slot at the showpiece based on ending last weekend in 19th place in the world rankings. But UK Athletics selectors, he said, demanded he line up in Manchester rather than affording him extra time to recover.
“I asked two weeks ago not to race, just because I was on such low mileage and I wasn't fit and I was told that to be selected, you must compete in the trials,” he claimed. “So that's why I was there.
“And luckily, the past two weeks have actually been pretty good. So fitness is coming along really, really fast. It's starting to click now. So hopefully that race pushes me on over and I can do something in Eugene.”
Scottish sprinter Adam Thomas insists it won’t ruin his year if he is left out. A world indoor finalist in March, he propelled himself into contention for a relay berth in Oregon with sixth place in the men’s 100 metres in Manchester.
It came with the 25-year-old’s quickest time of his life of 10.14 secs that will remain unofficial due to the windy conditions.
But even though Thomas has won praise from head coach Christian Malcolm, he admits it may be too late to force his way into the potent 4x100 line-up.
“For me, the main focus is Commonwealth Games, being completely honest. So yes, a relay spot would be nice but Commies is where I want to be running fast. If I go to worlds, it does it change the plans a little bit.
“But this has all shown the shape I’m in. I haven't quite put the race together yet but it shows that it's getting there.”
Hammer thrower Chris Bennett fears he will miss out on a return to the GB&NI line-up despite sitting inside the top 32 in the rankings.
The Rio Olympian has been nursing a shoulder injury which will require surgery at the end of the summer.
But he was just fifth at the trials and there is no guarantee British Athletics will accept his invite. “They said we had to show form and I didn’t throw very well,” the Glaswegian admitted.
