Iwan Thomas believes Christine Ohuruogu's Beijing exploits will make Scotland's Lee McConnell a better athlete.

Ohuruogu added Olympic 400m gold to her World Championship crown in the Far East last year, while Glasgow-born McConnell missed out on a place in the Beijing final.

But British record holder Thomas, who scooped Olympic relay silver at Atlanta 1996, insists domestic competition will force McConnell to up her game.

"If I had been clearly Britain's number one in my day then perhaps I wouldn't have pushed myself as much as I did," said Thomas.

"Having someone running at the top of their sport domestically makes you improve and that could be the key for Lee.

"We've always been talented in 400m and I used to race regularly against Roger Black, Mark Richardson and Jamie Baulch.

"But the women - with Christine, Lee and Nicola Sanders - have taken over that mantle now."