SCOTTISH 3,000m steeplechase champion Emma Raven, from Chester-le-Street, has set a new Scottish native record for the event – but she is resigned to missing out on a Commonwealth Games call-up.

“It is very frustrating to come so close,” said the 28-year-old North-East gold medallist after running a personal-best 10mins 5secs in the dark at Grangemouth last week – ten seconds outside the Commonwealth Games qualifying mark.

Raven has searched high and low for a 3,000m steeplechase in a bid to beat tomorrow’s Scottish deadline, but the only race she could find was in Canada.

Her final attempt to obtain the qualifying time for New Delhi saw her fall into the water jump as she raced in the dark after a 10.15pm delayed start.

“That probably cost me a couple of seconds and as well as running in the dark, there was torrential rain during the race,” she reflected.

“It is a shame because I know the time is there but I just haven’t had the right race.

“Looking back I probably should have run harder in better conditions at Watford in June when I ran 10mins 9secs and knocked 15 seconds off my pb. But I have been pleased with my season.”

Her next outing will be in the Northern Women’s Steeplechase Championships at the Trafford Grand Prix on August 10, when she will target the UK record of 6:28.07.

Ironically, Texas-based Lennie Waite, beaten twice by Raven in championship races this summer, is likely to win selection for Delhi on the strength of her 9:54.88 clocked in ideal conditions in Warsaw, in June.

Raven, who also holds the Scottish 2,000m steeplechase record (6:29.58), had hoped to join Chester-le-Street clubmate Freya Murray on the plane to India in October.

The UK 5,000m champion has the Commonwealth Games qualifying times for the 3,000m and 5,000m and is prepared to compete in both events.

■ Wednesday is the closing date for next Sunday’s Darlington 10K when, for the first time, there will be entries on the day. There will be £150 bonuses on offer for athletes breaking the course records held by Martin Scaife (30mins 21secs) and Alyson Dixon (33mins 39secs).