MARC SCOTT has qualified for the 5,000m final at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon after progressing from the heats as one of the fastest losers.

Scott, who is from Northallerton and a member of Richmond and Zetland Harriers, finished eighth in the second of the two qualifying heats.

The top five from each heat qualified automatically for the final, but Scott had the benefit of knowing what he had to do to secure a fastest-loser spot and his finishing time of 13:22.54 saw him through to the final.

Last year’s Great North Run winner will return to the track for the final in the early hours of Sunday morning, our time, and will be the only British representative after Andrew Butchart and Sam Atkin finished down the field in the first heat and failed to qualify.

“I’m pleased to get through, it’s always a bit nerve-wracking in the first round,” said Scott, in an interview with Athletics Weekly. “I’m just glad to get it behind me.

“I wasn’t feeling so great, but a qualification is a qualification, so I’m just really glad to have put that away. I’ll rest up and get ready for the final now.

“Our coaches were shouting at us before the start, letting us know the time that we needed to run to qualify. That’s always a great advantage.

“It’s obviously frustrating for those in the first heat, but I went through it at the Olympics and didn’t advance. It’s just one of those things.”