Athletics: Mayock ready to impress

John Mayock the European Indoor 3,000m bronze medallist, will be looking to impress the Commonwealth Games selectors in today's Balmoral road races.

Mayock will be defending his four-kilometre title, while the five-mile men's and women's events will provide benchmarks for athletes who have been training through the winter.

The men on display at Royal Deeside include the Olympic 5km gold medallist Million Wolde and the European Cross-Country champion Sergei Lebed. Paul Evans and Carl Thackery are using the event as preparation for the world half-marathon championships in May, while Jon Wild, Ben Noad, Glen Stewart and Allen Graffin have the Commonwealth Games on their minds.

In the women's race, Gabriela Szabo and Sonia O'Sullivan meet for the first time since their titanic 5,000m Olympic final. The Romanian took gold in Sydney, but this time the European Indoor 3,000m champion Marta Dominguez of Spain and the Australian Benita Johnson will also be challenging.

O'Sullivan, who gave birth to her second daughter Sophie on 23 December, is expecting a big challenge from Szabo as she attempts to get her training programme back on track.

The 32-year-old Irishwoman said: "I am not further ahead than where I expected to be, I am probably just where I should be – but it is good to know I am not behind."