A GROUP of British journalists were waiting for Soviet security to admit entry to the 1980 Olympic village when an English colleague arrived, fresh from Oslo. "Your man, Muir, ran well at Bislett last night – won the 5000 in 13min 17.9sec," he told me. "Third fastest in the world this year! Pity he's not in our Olympic team!"

The Shettleston Harrier, Nat Muir, had failed to qualify for the Games, yet at the end of the year he was still ranked third in the world. Miruts Yifter had won gold in Moscow with 13:20.91, with Sulieman Nyambui taking silver. The Tanzanian, who had finished behind Muir in Oslo, went on to set a world indoor 5000m record in 1981.

Muir, however, never ran faster, and his 13:17.9 remains the Scottish record, but at last it is under threat. Andrew Butchart, from Auchterarder, clocked 13:18.96 last Sunday in California, carving 10 seconds off his best. His time surpassed those of Ian Stewart and Ian McCafferty when they famously won Commonwealth gold and silver in 1970.

Butchart's sole objective was to get inside the British Olympic qualifying standard for Rio de Janiero: 13.25.00. "I hope to run faster and definitely think I can," he said yesterday.

Muir's mark was "not in my mind at all. I saw the clock at the bell and knew I had to run a sub-63 last lap. One of the guys took it on pretty hard, and I went with him, through 200 in 12:50-ish, and knew a sub-35 last 200 would get me there, so I went as fast as I could."

Behind him were notable scalps: Garrett Heath, the American who beat Mo Farah in January to win the Edinburgh cross-country, Kenyan Stephen Sambu [26:54 for 10,000m], and Chris Derrick, an American with 13:08 to his credit.

"As soon as I crossed the line I knew I'd run the standard. And then it clicked: Nat's record was just a second faster. Do you know? I wasn't that bothered. It wasn't an aim for that race. It was simply about getting the Olympic standard. I need to do it twice, and plan to try again at Hengelo in a fortnight. But now, Nat's record is also on my mind. I know I can run faster. It means a lot to me, because my coach, Derek Easton, trained with Nat when he ran the record. He tries to drill into my head how good Nat was – how fast he was, and how hard he trained."

Butchart is under no illusions. Though fastest in Britain this year, he knows not even Muir's record will book his passport to Rio. "I don't want to get ahead of myself. Mo Farah [defending Olympic champion] will be selected no matter what, and won't compete at the trials."

That leaves three realistic contenders chasing two places: Tom Farrell (13.10 last year) and Andy Vernon (13.20) who may opt for the 10k. "If he gets that 10k place, he may opt for that," says Butchart, "but no matter what, it will be hard. Three of us could be racing for two places at the trial. There's a long way to go."

He spent eight weeks at altitude, in Flagstaff, Arizona, preparing for two races he hoped would get him the required times. The first lacked a pace-maker and proved tactical. He shared an apartment with fellow Scots Eilish McColgan and Beth Potter, plus Mike Rimmer and Rob Mullet. "It was a great atmosphere."

Farah was there part of the time. "We ran a few times together, just steady runs. By the time he arrived, I was tapering for the race."

It was watching Farah in 2012 that fired his enthusiasm. "I thought I could possibly be in Rio, but it was only when I ran 13:29 last year that I thought I should give it a bash.

"My parents gave me some money. I'm really dependent on them, and I get great support from my club, Central." Scottishathletics also helped bankroll the trip, along with his only sponsor, New Balance. They provide kit, and there will be a bonus for last weekend's time. "But I am not on a salary with them."

He packed in work as a fitness instructor at Gleneagles last November, to concentrate on his sport. "I felt I had to go for it 100%, not waste energy on anything that takes aways from athletics. My coach insists I don't think about money at all. I'm not homeless, don't have to worry about food or whatever. It's not so much of a sacrifice."

He has taken a few days off, to spend the weekend in Annecy with his girlfriend, Caitlin. "A few days away from athletics, then back home on Monday and back into training."

Once, Butchart admits, he did not take his sport seriously. "Now I'd rather go out for a run than go for a pint." Easton applauds his work ethic and attitude. He is "quietly confident Andrew will run quicker if he gets the right race. He has a great attitude, and is not afraid to get beaten. He focuses on getting the best out of himself."

If he makes the team, Butchart believes he can reach the Olympic final, and help establish a new generation of Scottish athletes.

A record nine Scots were on the 1972 Olympic athletics team, but that looks sure to be surpassed. The Hawkins brothers and Tsegai Tewelde are already named for the marathon; European 400m hurdles champion Eilidh Doyle won the opening Diamond League race last night in an Olympic standard time, beating the woman who denied her Commonwealth gold; Butchart has one qualifying time at 5k; Laura Whittle and McColgan each have one in the women's 5k, and Steph Twell – yet to run this season – achieved it last year; Potter has one at 10k; Laura Muir has two at 800m, Lynsey Sharp has one; Chris O'Hare and Jake Wightman have both made the 1500m time of 3:36.20 before; Jax Thoirs is just five centimetres shy of the 5.70m pole vault standard; high jumper Allan Smith has cleared the 2.29m standard before; Lennie Waite has achieved the steeplechase mark in the past, as has Kirsten McAslan at 400m; and Mark Dry's best in the hammer is 76.93 metres. He needs 77.00 metres twice. Prospects for Olympic Scots have never looked better.