Forres Harrier Mark Mitchell is refusing to give up on his dream of representing Scotland at next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi despite injury halting his progress in 2008.

The 20-year-old, who this week was again selected for the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes initiative, has been suffering from a persistent thigh injury which contributed to his 800m times going backwards last season.

In 2007 he clocked 1.48.42 and in 2006 he went fractionally slower in 1.48.79 but last season the Edinburgh Napier University student, who is studying sport and exercise science with physiology, was unable to break the 1.49 minute barrier.

But Mitchell, who insists he's now back fit and raring to go, hopes to qualify for the European under-23 Championships in Lithuania in July as he looks to cut his 800m personal best by half-a-second in time for Delhi in 2010.

"I had iliotibial band syndrome but I'm on my way back now and looking forward to getting on the track over the summer," said Mitchell, who is mentored by double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes.

"I didn't do an indoor season because I was injured but I am on my way back to full fitness.

"I ran pretty well last season and this year I will take it slow, there are championships to aim for like the European Under-23's but I want to throw my focus further ahead towards the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

"I think that is a pretty achievable target but I have to get 1:47.8 in the 800m to go there and that is just half a second off what I have already achieved a few years ago.

"So I will take things slow to make sure I definitely go to India and that will give me a good platform in my bid for London 2012."