Sprinters hit their maximum acceleration when running unimpeded on a straight track. Alisha Rees trusts the bends in the road that threatened to stall her young career are now disappearing into the rear view mirror.

At 20, she can fondly recall her days as a teenage sensation, brimming with high-speed potential. But time moves on. The Aberdonian wishes to, likewise. And in breaking a Scottish senior record yesterday which had stood for 17 years, she suggested that a new exciting gear has been engaged.

At the 4J Scottish Indoor Championships in Glasgow, she clocked 7.33 seconds in the final of the 60 metres to end Susan Burnside’s lengthy supremacy atop the rankings.

“I had my eye on that record for the indoor season but I didn’t necessarily think it would come this weekend,” she said. “But I am delighted with it. It worked in my favour that it was two races rather than three and I felt I could really blast out two and see what the times were like.

“In the heat it went well and when it was rounded down to 7.40 that was very close to my personal best. It certainly made me think I was capable of a bit faster in the final and that’s what happened.”

From Aberdeenshire, Rees openly admits the outset of her student days in Loughborough threw curve balls which spun her dedication off-kilter. Despite earning one senior GB&NI vest in the 4x100 relay, the depth of a sprint generation led by Dina Asher-Smith means she will need to maintain absolute focus to succeed. Faith in herself has been restored in tandem with her coach Leon Baptiste.

“I’ve had a couple of years where it maybe hasn’t quite gone to plan,” she acknowledged. “But I am working hard on things with my coach and in training and hopefully there is a benefit of that and times come down.

“I must admit I’ve my sights set on the Scottish women’s 100m record – which is at 11.40. I’ve run 11.45 for my PB last season and I’d be happy to break that one.”

Nikki Manson delivered the loftiest high jump yet by a Scottish woman by clearing 1.92m at the Emirates Arena. It elevated her own indoor record and went one centimetre above Jayne Barnetson’s outdoor mark.

“I actually heard (the PA announcer) say: ‘Nikki will have three attempts – if she needs them’ when they put the bar up to 1.92m,” she said. “I just thought ‘I’m not taking three attempts at this – I need to get it before that’.”

In the mix for international selection since gaining a spot at the European Championships in Berlin two summers ago, she might pursue greater heights this Olympic year. “I’m back here in a few weeks for the British Championships,” she added. “I hope the top English athletes do come here and we have a really good competition.”

Elsewhere, 2018 world indoor semi-finalist Mhairi Hendry burnt off training partner Philippa Millage to win the women’s 800m while Guy Learmonth surpassed Tom McKean’s 1984 championship best by clocking 1:48.77 as he powered clear in the men’s 800m final.

“It’s always good to achieve something which has Tom’s name alongside and I’ve not made any secret that I have to chase his times,” the Borderer said.

Meanwhile World Athletics officials have conceded March’s world indoor championships may have to be switched from the Chinese city of Nanjing if the outbreak of the coronavirus continues to spread. “World Athletics is monitoring this situation carefully and is in close contact with the World Health Organisation,” a spokesperson confirmed.