IT will be the biggest race of his life.

And this afternoon the whole of Peeblesshire will join the rest of the world in watching Chris O'Hare attempt to defy the odds and reach the final of the World Championships 1500 metres.

The 22-year-old from West Linton qualified from his heat on Wednesday as a fastest loser.

And standing in his way this afternoon are the two fastest men in the world, Silas Kiplagat and Asbel Kiprop.

Speaking from Moscow yesterday, Chris told us: "I am really excited about the semi-final.

"Everything I have done this season has been in preparation for this moment and I am very much ready to give it my all and show the world what a little guy from the Borders is capable of."

Chris became the youngest Scot to ever run a sub four minute mile almost two years ago.

But coaches at his Tulsa University base in America believe the former Peebles High School pupil still has another six or seven years of improvement in him.

Despite being a huge underdog in his heat on Wednesday, the diminutive figure of O'Hare blasted through the field to take up the running on the second-last lap.

He may have faded in the home straight - but his bravery earned him the required time to reach today's semi-finals.

Chris added: "It was a tough race in the heat and when we came through the 800 metres in 2.01/2.02 I knew that I was going to have to do something big in the last 700 metres to make sure I made the semi-final. I had to throw all respect for those world class athletes out of the window and take the races to them - thankfully it paid off."

Chris, who is drawn in lane one, runs in the first semi-final this afternoon at 4.05pm. The race is televised live on BBC 1.