Andrew Butchart wins 5,000m at British Championships to seal Olympics spot

Butchart also won the Vitality London 10K race recently amid a superb run of form

Andrew Butchart surged clear of the field to win the British Championships 5,000m and seal his place in Great Britain's Olympics team for Rio.

The 24-year-old maintained the sparkling form which has seen him set new Scottish records at 5,000m and 3,000m in the past five weeks.

He broke away with four laps to go and enjoyed a celebratory final lap as he finished in 13 minutes, 44.00 seconds.

Tom Farrell pipped fellow Englishman Andy Vernon for second place.

"I am absolutely buzzing," said Butchart, a member of the Central Athletics Club based in Stirling.

"I was really nervous for today, it was my first chance of winning a British title and I am really happy to be going to Rio, I'm over the moon.

"This is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am so excited to represent my country and so looking forward to the Games.

"I have been working so hard to get it done."

Fellow Scot Eilidh Doyle comfortably won her 400m hurdles heat in 56.30 seconds - nearly two seconds quicker than anyone else in the three heats - to qualify for Sunday's final at 13:46 BST.

Laura Muir was the fastest qualifier for Sunday's 1500m final (15:27) in four minutes, 15.07 seconds, winning the second heat ahead of Charlene Thomas (4:15.46) and Jessica Judd (4:16.18). Sarah McDonald, Laura Weightman and Hannah England were the leading trio in the opening heat.

Lynsey Sharp won her 800m heat in 2:01.86, with only Jenny Meadows (2:01.33) qualifying faster for Sunday's final at 16:33.

Chris O'Hare won his 1500m heat and Jake Wightman finished second in his to both reach the final, at 15:05 on Sunday. Englishman Tom Lancashire, who won the final heat, was the fastest qualifier.