A DOZEN Scots are now guaranteed places in the Great Britain athletics squad for Rio after a weekend of outstanding performances at the Olympic trials. Four athletes - three in the marathon and one in the 10,000 metres - had already won selection before the three-day meeting in Birmingham, Andrew Butchart joined them by winning the 5000m on Saturday, and yesterday a magnificent seven more joined the ranks.

It is already the biggest complement of Scots in the GB team since the Munich Olympics of 1972, and the number could well get bigger before the qualifying period ends in a fortnight. The two criteria for selection at these championships were a top-two place and the achievement of a qualifying standard; and in addition to those who met both, there are competitors such as Chris Bennett and Mark Dry - first and second respectively in the hammer - who have yet to achieve the required distance. Laura Whittle, third in her 5000m yesterday behind Steph Twell and Eilish McColgan, has the time and could become a discretionary selection.

Chris O’Hare, who won a bruising 1500m in which Jake Wightman came third to join Whittle in the selectors’ waiting room, attributed the increased size of the Scottish contingent to the example shown by the more experienced athletes such as Eilidh Doyle - and to the indomitable character of the younger members of the team such as himself. “It’s a lot and it’s great,” he said. “The Scots are a proud bunch and to have that many on the plane will be helpful for us all.

“I think if you look back to even before London [2012], it was mainly just and a few others - and Eilidh has really given us all the belief that Scots are just as good as anyone and we can compete. Hopefully this generation, at this Olympics, can show younger kids that, and hopefully we’ll have even more in 2020.

“Scots will always have that terrier mentality, where we are the small dog that needs to fight twice as hard and bark twice as loud. That’s a good trait to have in this sport.”

It was little wonder that Rodger Harkins, Scottish Athletics’ director of coaching, was ecstatic after seeing so many of his athletes perform with such distinction. “It has been a terrific weekend for Scottish athletes and their coaches in Birmingham, and we’re all excited by the performances,” Harkins said.

“Naturally we want to firmly congratulate those athletes who have put themselves in the frame for automatic selection for the Olympics. That is the pinnacle of the sport and they’ve put in so much hard work to achieve standards and high finishes at the British Champs. We say ‘well done’ to them and their coaches.

“We also have people in contention for the European Championships in Holland and others who landed medals in Birmingham, reached finals or recorded PB performances in heats. We commend those who performed on the big stage.

“I also want to thank our Olympic-bound athletes because they are providing inspiration and motivation for other Scottish athletes – and that is a great thing for the sport. Overall I am thrilled that the numbers add up. Six was a target we had spoken about within the sport, so to exceed that so emphatically is a massive encouragement.”

Doyle was first to book her place on the plane yesterday with a straightforward win in the 400m hurdles. “I was happy with that race,” she said. “It was a nice and smooth run, no errors, no stuttering and job done.

“I just thought something would have to go terribly wrong not to be there [in Rio]. But now I can walk away knowing I’m definitely going to be there.

“I’ve built all year towards that, but now there’s not that doubt in the back of my mind. It’s a nice feeling.”

Laura Muir displayed her growing self-confidence with a commanding win in the 1500m. Lennie Waite failed to defend her 3000m steeplechase title, coming second in the final, but that was only a minimal annoyance as she, like Doyle, already had the two qualifying times under her belt. Lynsey Sharp was in the same position, coming second in the 800m but having the luxury of knowing that was all she needed.

“It’s the Glasgow [Commonwealth Games] effect,” Sharp said when asked why Scottish performances have improved so much. “Everyone saw in Glasgow how it was possible to compete on the world stage, and we’re probably still inspired by having that in our back garden.

“Not only are there people I’ve grown up with in the sport like Eilish and Chris O’Hare, but people coming through like Andrew Butchart. There are people a few years below me that have risen to the occasion who will be on the plane as well.”

Scots guaranteed selection for Rio:

Women: 800m: Lynsey Sharp. 1500m: Laura Muir. 5000m: Steph Twell, Eilish McColgan. 10,000m: Beth Potter. 400m hurdles: Eilidh Doyle. 3000m steeplechase: Lennie Waite.

Men: 1500m: Chris O’Hare. 5000m: Andrew Butchart. Marathon: Callum Hawkins, Derek Hawkins, Tsegai Tewelde.