BORDERS athlete Guy Learmonth hopes to make his mark on world athletics this weekend in Russia.

The 23-year-old pulls on a Great Britain vest for the Euro Team Championships.

And, in his first ever GB senior appearance, wants to lay down a marker during the 800 metres at Cheboksary.

Guy told us: “I am very happy with the GB selection for Cheboksary and everyone is looking forward to the event.

“It was in our plan for the summer and now it is happening. We were looking at it during the indoor season and hoping to make Russia on the way to the trials in early July.

“The Euro Team champs feels like a big event for me. It will be my first experience of an outdoor champs with GB after being at the Euros in Prague. It is all following on well from the Commonwealth Games and those three nights in Glasgow at Hampden.” Guy fell at the recent Grand Prix meeting in Birmingham.

And hopes to use this weekend’s Euro Team Championships as an opportunity to claim the World Championships later this year in Beijing.

He added: “I want to try and nail that time for Beijing and then look to the trials themselves. I’ve had two months of intense training and now I am ready to go.” West Linton’s Chris O’Hare pulled out of the Birmingham Grand Prix meeting due to injury.

But he is expected to return to these shores next month in a bid to retain his UK title and also reach the 1500 metres qualifying standard for Beijing.