Mackie given Commonwealth lifeline

Sprinter Ian Mackie has been handed a Commonwealth Games lifeline by the Scotland team.

The Fife runner had been told he would be facing exclusion from the squad for Manchester after failing to prove his fitness after a foot injury.

But, after a showdown meeting last night, Mackie was granted a further opportunity to prove his fitness at the AAAs meeting in Birmingham this weekend.

Mackie told the Daily Record: ‘‘This has definitely given me a lifeline.

‘‘Hopefully, I can now get in two or three days’ good training and the weather will be fine.

‘‘I really appreciate the fact I have been given this opportunity and I will be trying as hard as I can to make it.

‘‘It does put a hell of a lot of pressure on me with all the media attention and, for me, it will almost be like running in a major championship.

‘‘The big problem is that I have not run enough races this year and it just feels like I’m running in treacle later in the race.

‘‘But I believe I can do it.’’