DOUBLE world champion Maria Lyle is gearing up to return to racing for the first time in nearly 10 months.

Lyle (pictured below, by Luc Percival/World Para Athletics) will take part in the Muller British Athletics Championships in Manchester on September 4 and 5.

The Dunbar athlete was delighted to be getting back to racing after a season disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: “It feels good to finally have a race this season!

“Obviously, we were not quite sure if we would be having a season or just training this year. This gives me something to target at training. To get that exposure is a good opportunity.

“My last race was at the World Championships, which were last November – so it is nearly a year ago. It has been a long time with no racing.”

Lyle, 20, will line up in the women’s ambulant 100m, on the back of her double gold in the T35 100m and 200m at the World Para-Athletics Championships in Dubai last year.

Sport across the world has been impacted by the pandemic, with Lyle among those not able to take part in her usual training regime alongside coach Jamie Bowie.

The former Dunbar Grammar School pupil, who has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, was unable to use the athletics track for a number of months.

She said: “I have managed to motivate myself but in sports like running it is quite technical.

“To not have that coach’s eye on you when you are doing technical sessions, it is difficult to get feedback.

“I guess we have got to go on with it and everybody’s situation is the same.”

The Müller British Athletics Championships are broadcast live on the Friday on BBC2, 6-9pm, and the Saturday on BBC1, 1.15-4.30pm.