Home favourite Elidh Child gave the 12,000-strong crowd at Hampden for the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix a night to remember as she recorded the second quickest 400m hurdles ever run by a Scottish female.
The Kinross athlete impressively outclassed a high-quality field, including three rivals who had personal bests quicker than her own. And the 27-year-old put down a fine marker ahead of the Commonwealth Games by finishing in 54.39 seconds, just 0.17 off her own Scottish record.
“I’m delighted to have got that win,” she said at the stadium, looking resplendent after its transformation from a football venue.
“It was a good quality race and a lot of good Americans were out there too.
“It showed I’m in great condition. It’s my second fastest time ever. It’s not far off my PB and everything is going in the right direction.
“I can go back into some hard training and hopefully taper down for the games. I’ve been in hard training so hopefully come the games, I’ll run a bit faster then.”
She added: “It was amazing running at Hampden. I didn’t expect such a loud cheer at the start and that’s with the stadium not even full.
“To have that, I only wonder what it’s going to be like in a couple of weeks when the games actually start. It was just incredible.”
Heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson showed why she is favourite for gold at the games with a personal best 6.92m to finish second in the long jump.
The Liverpool athlete continued her stunning form this year to come within three centimetres of the British record.
Shara Proctor, the holder of that record and now the only woman above Johnson-Thompson on the British all-time list, had to settle for third with 6.82m.
Will Sharman claimed some major scalps in winning the 110m hurdles, equalling his personal best of 13.21 in the process, with Jamiaca’s world No 1 Hansle Parchment among those beaten.
The evening started with Paralympian Stef Reid setting a new world record in the F44 long jump with her 5.47m leap.
There was more British success when David Weir eased to victory in the T53-54 1,500m wheelchair race after speeding away from the field with three quarters of a lap to go, finishing in 3:08.78.
Panama’s Alonso Edward was triumphant in the 200m, while Javier Culson demolished a 400m hurdles field that included double Olympic champion Felix Sanchez, who could only finish fourth. Rhys Williams was best of the Brits in sixth.
The women’s 400m was won by Francena McCorory in 49.93 with Sifan Hassan winning a star-studded women’s 1,500m.