BORDERS middle-distance athlete Guy Learmonth hailed his coach after running the fastest race of his life to earn a place at next month's World Championships.

For over a decade Henry Gray has been tutoring and mentoring Learmonth on the seafront at Eyemouth and the track at Tweedbank.

The leisure centre manager has helped his protege return to the top severa times following injuries and disappointments.

Learmonth finished second in last weekend's 800 metres at the British Championships behind Elliot Giles.

But the 25-year-old from Berwick still had to reach the World Championship qualifying standard of 1.46.00 to be sure of a place in Team GB - close to half a second faster than he'd ever run before.

On Sunday at the Anniversary Games, on the same London track where the World Championships will take place at the start of August, Learmonth took full advantage of one of the fastest races to be run this year, and clock 1.45.77.

The British indoor champion ran a disciplined race towards the back of the field and finished strongly to take tenth place behind Botswana's Nijel Amos.

Guy was quick to praise his long-time coach after his qualifying time was confirmed.

He said: "Henry has stuck by me through thick and thin, and it is Henry who has me peaking at the right time.

"I owe this new PB and my place at the World Championships to Henry and we will now get down and work hard ahead over the next few weeks to prepare for the Worlds.

"It's not been an easy year or two but I'm now running better than I've ever run before."

While it was a case of job done for Learmonth on Sunday, for fellow Borders athlete Chris O'Hare it was a day for the world to sit up and take notice.

Last week the 26-year-old from West Linton showed great maturity as he dominated the final of the 1500 metres at the British Championship.

On Sunday, faced with an international field that included Vincent Kibet and Filip Ingebrigtsen, O'Hare managed to come from being boxed in with 200 metres to out-sprint the field and win in a time of 3.34.75.

Chris told us: "I came off the bend and had a lot of work to do but the crowd lifted me."

The 2017 World Championships take place between August 4 and 13.