Athletics: Last hurrah for Martin

EAMONN MARTIN has been given a marvellous opportunity to finish his distinguished track career in style.

The European Championship and Commonwealth Games' selectors have agreed to extend the deadline for 10,000 metres places by two days, enabling him to return to the scene of one of his greatest successes on 22 July and seek qualifying times.

Martin broke Brendan Foster's British record in his first attempt at the distance in

Oslo's Bislett Stadium six years ago, and that time of 27min 23:06sec still stands.

He went on to win the Commonwealth title in Auckland, then proved to be one of the country's most versatile athletes by claiming a second English cross-country championship and then winning the London Marathon.

Now, the 35-year-old Basildon runner wants one last

attempt at the 10,000m after being ruled out of the World Championships last year with a foot injury.

Mel Batty, his coach, who wrote to the selectors asking for an extension, said: 'It would be his swan-song

before concentrating on the marathon.'