PB Magazine - Issue 1, 2023

£3.75

European Indoors: Medal glory for Laura and Neil

The official magazine for members of scottishathletics

Photos: Bobby Gavin, Mark Shearman, Jeff Holmes, British Athletics/Getty Images, Steve Adam

Contributors: Colin Hutchison, Katy Barden, Sue Gyford

Advertisers: Lindsays, Joma Sport, Athletics Trust Scotland, project: physio; Babcock 10k, Roon the Toon, Baxters Loch Ness Marathon

Interviewees: Laura Muir, Neil Gourley, Guy Learmonth, Carys McAulay, Nikki Manson, Logan Rees, Scout Adkin, Katie Purves, Naomi Lang, Taylah Paterson, Ryan Oswald, Stuart Donnelly, Alister Russell, Jo Wilson, Derek Rae, Nicola Russell, Iain Miller Clubs: Central AC, Shettleston Harriers, Team East Lothian

FRONT COVER PHOTOS: Eilish McColgan breaks British Record at 10,000m in California (photo by Gregorio Denny); Laura Muir at the European Indoors and Neil Gourley 1500m medal podium (European Athletics/Getty Images).

PAGE PHOTO: Megan Keith on her way to silver U23 Women’s race at the Euro Cross in Italy (photo by Getty Images for European Athletics).

CONTENTS

07885 868164

Alasdhair Love Head of Competitions 07584 146 796 alasdhair.love@scottishathletics.org.uk

Allan Scott National Manager Sprints, Hurdles & Relays 07824 015 392 allan.scott@scottishathletics.org.uk

Carol Robison Membership Administrator 07931 845 783 membership@scottishathletics.org.uk

Colin Hutchison Chief Executive 07983 080 925 colin.hutchison@scottishathletics.org.uk

Dawn Allan Head of Operations 07983 080 922 dawn.allan@scottishathletics.org.uk

Jo Stevens Jog Scotland Membership Development Of cer 07903 180 453 jo.stevens@scottishathletics.org.uk

Julie Mollison Head of Coaching Development & Talent 07818 592 639 julie.mollison@scottishathletics.org.uk

Lindsay McMahon National Club Manager 07918 796 648 lindsay.mcmahon@scottishathletics.org.uk

Mark Pollard Head of Performance 07584 102 980 mark.pollard@scottishathletics.org.uk

Peter Jardine Head of Communications 07885 868 164 peter.jardine@scottishathletics.org.uk

Angie Sutherland Welfare Administrator 07393 674262 pvg@scottishathletics.org.uk

Cara Shearer National Club Manager 07508 317606 Cara.shearer@scottishathletics.org.uk

Mark Nixon National Manager – Endurance Mark.nixon@scottishathletics.org.uk 07568 226992

Pamela Robson National Disability Pathway Of cer 07827 343 410 pamela.robson@scottishathletics.org.uk

David Fallon Head of Development 07960 582838 david.fallon@scottishathletics.org.uk

Fran Snitjer Executive Of cer and Equalities Of cer 07584 146 795 francesca.snitjer@scottishathletics.org.uk

Allan Hamilton Performance Co-ordinator; National Jumps & Combined Events Co-ordinator 07957 577915 performanceteam@scottishathletics.org.uk

Jamie McDonald National Club Manager 07776 370 199 jamie.mcdonald@scottishathletics.org.uk

Angela Mudge National Lead – Hill Running 07739 506786 angela.mudge@scottishathletics.org.uk

Robert Hawkins National Lead Of cer - Marathon Project 07903 179 875 robert.hawkins@scottishathletics.org.uk

Shona Malcolm Of cials Development Of cer 07731 832 567 shonamalcolm@scottishathletics.org.uk

Sue Gyford Digital Communications and Press Of cer 07880 037 574 sue.gyford@scottishathletics.org.uk

Morva McKenzie Welfare Of cer 07983 081 122 morva.mckenzie@scottishathletics.org.uk

Caitlin Watt Competitions Manager 07718 526 373 events@scottishathletics.org.uk

Sophie Allan Competitions and Business Administrator 07522 556771 events@scottishathletics.org.uk

Laura Kirkland Coaching administrator coaching@scottishathletics.org.uk

Alison Grey Coaching Co-ordinator & Throws Co-ordinator 07739 506 733 alison.grey@scottishathletics.org.uk

Summer 2022 may feel like a lifetime ago, but the great performances and the record breaking by Scottish athletes continues from the age groups all the way through to Masters.

It is hard to believe that 2023 was the first full indoor and XC season the sport has had since 2020.

That highlights the challenges we have all faced individually, and the sport collectively, over the past three years. Surviving that period has been difficult for us all, but I believe our community can be extremely proud of the way athletics in Scotland has emerged from the pandemic crisis.

In January, the scottishathletics membership was 20 percent above where it was in January 2021, and four percent higher than in January 2022.

The final club affiliation for 2022/23 is showing growth again for the first time since 2019/20. The recent Lindsays National XC had over 100 member clubs represented.

I believe the picture could have been very different but the resilience, commitment and determination from the clubs, coaches, Officials, volunteers and staff has ensured that athletics in Scotland is back on the right path to growth, development and success.

In recent months, we have been reviewing our strategy ‘Building a Culture of Success’ and it has been refreshing to focus on the future and look collectively at how athletics in Scotland continues to evolve and improve.

Thank you to everyone that has taken part in our surveys and focus groups over that period. The insight provided has been critical to shaping the strategy and ensuring it remains ambitious across all the pillars of our work. The updated strategy will be published to the sport soon.

As we are all aware, the wider economic picture presents challenges for us individually and, like all sectors, there are significant issues facing athletics that we need to be proactive in addressing.

Changes to ownership and potential closure of facilities presents a significant risk to our sport and it is essential that we take all steps to work with partners to safeguard the future of facilities. This is going to require a collaborative approach working with national partners, local partners and clubs#SALtogether (again).

Colin

Colin Hutchison Chief Executive Scottish Athletics @SALChiefExec

Challenging times but evidence shows we’re back on right path

On a positive note, 2023 has seen the opening of the new Riverside Arena in Ayr which replaces Dam Park. This outstanding new facility will be a great addition to the Regional Facilities in the West of Scotland but will also start to host some national level events as well.

Our recently published National Facilities Strategy sets out our facility priorities over the next four years and sets out innovation in this area which will help grow our facilities infrastructure in a sustainable way.

This time next year, Glasgow will just have hosted the World Athletics Indoor Championships. The first time the event has ever been hosted in Scotland. This event presents a great opportunity to continue building on the great work being done by clubs across the country and will be a truly unique experience for the athletes, spectators and athletics community across Scotland to engage in.

As always, the 4J Studios scottishathletics Annual Awards provided a great platform to recognise athletes, coaches, Officials, volunteers, clubs and groups from across athletics in Scotland. It is important that we take the time to recognise the success and dedication of people across the sport who are undoubtedly the heartbeat of athletics in Scotland.

In addition to our own awards, there was significant recognition for athletes, in

particular Laura Muir, Eilish McColgan and Jake Wightman, across Scottish and British sporting awards and also recognition for athletics volunteers. David Cooney (Cambuslang Harriers) was the recipient of the British Empire Medal in the New Years Honours and Jim Hunter was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the UK Coaching Awards.

Congratulations to everyone who has been recognised during the awards season, and a final thank you and congratulations to all of you that have been instrumental in supporting athletes, your clubs and competition during an extremely busy indoor and XC season.

Last shall be first

Laura nails it (again) as Neil steps up

Laura Muir finished ‘dead last’ in her first European Indoors final – ten years ago in Gothenburg in Sweden.

Fast forward to Istanbul in March 2023 and Laura started her latest final medal bid in last position as she opened cautiously. But finished first. Again.

Any lingering doubts evaporated when Muir moved beyond race leader Claudia Bobocea of Romania with around 250m to run. The acceleration was enough; and ‘game face’ Laura dug deep to ensure a fifth successive European Indoor title and her seventh overall.

A number of stats and accolades have been mentioned since including becoming the first British athlete to win five titles at the European Indoors.

One that might have been missed demonstrated stunning consistency from Laura – this was her sixth major final in a row and her sixth visit to the podium

That Laura run reads:

August 2021 – Olympic silver 1500m

July 2022 – World Champs bronze 1500m

August 2022 – Commonwealth bronze 800m; Commonwealth gold 1500m

August 2022 – European gold 1500m

March 2023 – European Indoors gold 1500m

‘It has been insane in recent years because I think we have had at least one or two Scots on podiums at every major champs going back a wee bit, certainly a couple of years, ’ she told us in Turkey, after winning in 4:03.40.

‘We have women, we have men, we’ve had 5000m, 800m, 1500m. So it is a brilliant time for the sport and brilliant to be part of it.’

Laura is being characteristically modest there because for five championships in a row the Scottish medal haul has been . . . Laura plus one or more others.

The 29-year-old has no equals in Europe it seems and the focus will now be on the World Champs in Hungary in the summer.

Alongside Laura this time in terms of the medals was Neil Gourley.

The Giffnock North AC athlete delivered a fine silver medal in Istanbul in the Men’s 1500m final. It took a Championship Best Performance from Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen to land the gold ahead of the Scot.

That capped a remarkable couple of weeks for Neil as he won the British Indoors title and set a new British Record for Men’s 1500m Indoors.

Neil’s success means the quartet of Chris

O’Hare, Josh Kerr, Jake Wightman and Gourley himself have won 10 medals at major champs since 2014.

‘We are certainly trying to gather in medals,’ said Neil, when asked about the #SALtogether team effort

‘Bit by bit, I think we push each other on and raise standards. We are starting (collectively) to pick up medals across a number of championships and that’s great for athletics in Scotland and the UK.

‘Josh started it in terms of world level with the Olympics in 2021 and Jake took that up another notch by winning the World title in Oregon last summer.

‘I am doing my best to live with those standards. I am getting closer and closer – I put Jakob under a lot of pressure in Istanbul but didn’t quite come up with the win. But my goodness I am so much closer than I was last year so I take encouragement from that. We will keep working hard.

Guy Learmonth endured a rollercoaster

champs as he made the Men’s 800m final for the first time since 2015.

After scares in both the heat and the semi-final, Guy had to settle for sixth place in the end with 1:48.46 as the gold and silver medals came down to a photo finish before Spain’s Adrian Ben won the verdict (1:47.34).

He did well not to fall over when bronze medallist, Belgian Eliott Crestan, made contact from behind but the loss of momentum was frustrating.

But Guy wasn’t too disappointed with the outcome after an indoor PB this season and winning his fourth British Indoor title.

‘I want to get back on top of the game, the last few years haven’t gone my way, and I have had a lot of injuries and problems with my lungs with Covid – I’ve had that three times,’ said Guy.

‘I am fit and healthy now and I have a great set-up in Melbourne and I am confident for a big summer.’

Carys McAulay landed her first Senior GB and NI call-up for Istanbul after a fine run for bronze in the British Indoor Champs.

Injured while at the Commonwealth Games last summer, this time Carys was on the second leg for an inexperienced GB and NI team in the Women’s 4x400m final.

Carys delivered a strong run of 51.98 within a team performance which saw the British quartet finish in sixth place in 3:32.65 as Holland took gold.

‘I want to thank British Athletics for taking us as a team and giving us a taste of this,’ said Carys.

When Muir felt something the same back in 2013, who knew what was to follow?

Don’t miss out on Glasgow 2024 tickets

Eilidh Doyle believes ticket-holders for the 2024 World Indoor Champs will secure one of the most coveted seats in sport – even though they may be unaware of exactly how much they can help competing athletes.

The world’s best will converge on the Emirates Arena in Scotland and preregistration is open now to buy tickets for the event on March 1-3 next year.

Eilidh has been named as an Ambassador for the event and is excited about the prospect of sold-out signs with around 30,000 places available over three days.

‘I am very excited about it and coming back to the Emirates Arena venue – it has been a while since I was at the track – has inspired me even more,’ said Eilidh.

‘You look around the venue and think about what it will look like when the World Indoors comes in 2024. It will be a packed stadium, I am sure, and the atmosphere will be fantastic. I would urge folk now to preregister for tickets.

‘I don’t think there will be a problem selling out this venue for six sessions over three days so if you really want to be here and see it then I would say ‘be quick’.

‘Looking back to the Europeans here at

Eilish sets new British Record @10,000m

Eilish McColgan claimed another superb British Record after making a late decision to run 10,000m on the track in California.

Eilish savoured an historic run at the Sound Running Ten in San Juan Capistrano, California, as she out-kicked long-time leader Alicia Monson of the United States to win in 30:00.86.

The time saw her improve Paula Radcliffe’s British 10,000m record of 30:01.09 which was set when winning the European title in Munich in 2002.

Eilish was on pace to break her Scottish Record (30:19.02) but the British Record looked to be slipping away until she unleashed a terrific final lap of 64.87. Making her move past Monson with 300m to go, she ran her final 200m in 31.5 to shave 23 hundredths of a second off Radcliffe’s record.

Glasgow 2019 there were big crowds inside and a superb atmosphere. We want to create that again for a World Indoors and I think in truth it will be a ‘hot ticket’ for athletics fans and sports fans in Scotland and further afield.

Scotland’s most decorated track and field athlete actually competed for the very last time in her stellar career at the Emirates –running the final leg at the European Indoors in 2019 to lead GB and NI to silver in the Women’s 4x400m Relay.

‘It is hugely exhilarating to compete here in front of a full crowd,’ recalled Eilidh.

‘I ran the last leg of the 4x400m at the Glasgow 2019 Europeans for GB and NI and the atmosphere just blew me away. Hearing that crowd spurs you on and I don’t know if spectators really know what it means to the athlete.

‘It had a big impact on me and when the legs start to tire and the body hurts, you need all the help you can get! That roar helps you find something extra from inside. https://tinyurl.com/36xj2war

‘I’m absolutely buzzing,’ said Eilish.

‘Two years ago I ran a big PB here so it’s nice to be back with the crowds. I knew I was in really good shape but to have it all come together on the day doesn’t always happen.

‘I’m building up for London Marathon and have had a few niggles and missed some prep races in January and a half-marathon in February but I’m really strong right now so I’m glad I did it.

‘The marathon is going to be a big challenge. I think I’ll run a good 20 miles but that last 10km is going to be tough.’

Photo by Gregorio Denny @ dvgregori

Logan’s run features a grand finale

By Peter Jardine

Logan Rees and Jamie Crowe delivered one of the most exciting last lap finales to the Senior Men’s race in recent times at the Lindsays National XC.

Then, after holding off the double champion, gold medallist Logan revealed his ‘running battles’ with Jamie stretch back around 15 years.

‘We’ve been racing each other for a long time now and it’s always a great contest and good fun,’ smiled the Fife AC athlete, who returned from America for his first Falkirk assignment since 2018.

‘I would think the first time might have been at U11 or U13 level. It would probably have been a junior hill race somewhere in the middle of Fife back around 2007 or 2008.’

Rees and Crowe, who won the Senior title in 2020 and then again in 2022 after the Covid interlude, were neck-and-neck after the first two laps as they led home a huge field (675 finishers) at Callendar Park.

Race commentator Jim Goldie called it perfectly when he boomed: ‘We are set for a Titanic battle over this last lap between the Fife AC athlete and the defending champion from Central AC.’

So it transpired with a push up the final hill helping give Logan a slight advantage before the final corner and into the well-known straight. Next stop, the top of the podium.

Logan was fourth in the Senior race in 2018 and has a 28:45 PB for 10k on the track in America so was far from a rank outsider. Back in 2017, though, he wasn’t even the best performer in his own family at Falkirk

‘I was fifth in the U20 race one year but was beaten by my wee brother (Tristan) that day – I don’t even want to talk about that one,’ grinned the 26-year-old.

‘Seriously, I have been obsessed with Falkirk and the National XC for years and years even though I’ve been away in the United States and not practical to come home for one race.

‘I guess it stems from all those early years coming here as a kid and representing your club.’

Logan might also be accurately described as one of The President’s Men. Ron Morrison, our current President, is a long-time family friend and coached Logan, Tristan and Halina over a number of years.

It would be an understatement to say Ron was thrilled as that final straight conclusion unfolded.

Derek Easton, the other coach with ‘skin in the game’ in the Rees-Crowe contes, may have been a little less satisfied with the individual podium but could take huge

Once again, Central AC simply had far too much class to see off the challenges (as last year) of pretenders Shettleston Harriers and Cambuslang Harriers.

‘It’s great for the club again and what a team effort,’ smiled bronze medallist Hamish Hickey, with the team completed by Tom Graham Marr, Luca Fanottoli, Calum Philip and Cameron Milne (the sixth counter, at 23rd place).

‘Cameron Milne was our sixth counter and he has hardly trained at all recently. But he’s come out and put in a great run for the team.

‘We’ve so many guys driving each other on at the moment and training is hard work but fun, too.

‘We were at the European Clubs Cross Country as a club not too long ago so that helps for team spirit. But it was completely different from Falkirk!’

Hannah Ryding had to overcome the effects of jet-lag to win gold in the U20 Women’s race.

pride in the team outcome.

Rees savours Falkirk glory after epic race with defending champion Jamie

Hannah of course made an excellent GB and NI debut at the World Cross in Bathurst, Australia, only eight days prior to Falkirk.

‘I got home to Scotland on Monday night and it took me two or three days to recover from the flights and the travel,’ said the Giffnock North AC athlete.

‘I wanted to race here if I felt good enough and the decision was made by about Thursday. I did start to wonder about when we went off up that hill!

‘To say it is different from the conditions in Australia would be an understatement. It was so hot and nothing like anything I had experienced before.’

Dundee Hawkhill Harriers athlete Natasha Phillips took silver with bronze for Hannah Anderson of Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds.

The U20 Women’s team podium was: 1

Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds 2 Glasgow Uni Hare and Hounds 3 Giffnock North AC

Edinburgh Uni’s Matt Knowles has represented GB and NI on the hills and he brought that quality to bear on a strong U20 Men’s race.

Ryan Martin of Central AC was second and Conan Harper of Giffnock North AC was third.

The U20 Men’s team podium was: 1

Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds 2 Giffnock North AC 3 Kilbarchan AAC.

So, as is quite often the case, University teams rose to the challenge in the U20 races. Students of the sport, far their part, are liable to recall the Rees-Crowe contest for some time.

Patience pays off for Scout

Hill runner Scout Adkin climbed to the top of the podium in the Senior Women’s race and then delivered an inspiring message for young females down the age groups.

The Moorfoot Runners athlete has emerged as a mountain runner with real credentials over the past couple of years and the achievements include an individual bronze medal at the European Up and Down Champs in Spain last summer.

Winning gold at Falkirk ahead of Alice Goodall of Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds and Steph Pennycook of Fife AC clearly meant a lot to Scout. Not just after silver in 2022 but after many years of competing in her teens and early 20s.

‘I think I said last year that I came to Falkirk for years and years as a young athlete and was nowhere near the medals,’ she smiled.

‘I wasn’t even close. But I enjoyed it and I kept at it. You need to have patience and sometimes progress can hit a plateau but I’d certainly urge anyone to just keep working away and put an emphasis on enjoying it.

‘I’d some difficult years after studying at Uni but I’m really relishing things now. I live in the Lake District which is good for hill running and coming back to Falkirk to win

‘I wore the Moorfoot Runners vest because that’s my club. I was one of the first junior athletes that came through after Gregor Nicholson created the club – so it was nice to wear those colours again.’

Adkin had broken away after the first lap and then began to wonder if the strategy was right with still 6k or so to run as Goodall closed the gap.

‘I did worry a bit that I’d made a move too early,’ said Scout.

‘Alice (Goodall) was still there throughout the second lap and I think closed a bit at times on the third but thankfully I was far enough ahead when we turned into the straight.

‘After winning silver last year, it was a good feeling running in towards the finish for the victory.

‘I’ve won medals in hill races (including a European Mountain Running bronze) and, while they are different events and achievements, it’s brilliant to be a Scottish National XC champion,

‘I’ve been in the sport almost 20 years and came here time after time as a youngster without being anywhere near the medals. I hope there’s a message there for young athletes.’

Shettleston Harriers took the golds in the Women’s team race – a very solid achievement given the absence of Fionnuala Ross.

Again, teamwork paid off and a group of athletes who had competed at the European Club Cross Champs benefited. Edinburgh AC took the silvers and Carnethy HRC the bronzes.

Photos by Bobby Gavin

Lessons from history

Taking a deep dive into the National XC history books can be revealing.

Our Road Running and Cross Country Commission website has a comprehensive archive section with all manner of hidden gems therein.

The venerable Alex Jackson loves to uncover one or two in the countdown to Falkirk and did so spectacularly this year . . .

‘Back in 2007, in the U13 Boys race, Giffnock North AC took the gold medals,’ revealed Alex. ‘The fourth counter was a certain Neil Gourley – at 26th place in the race.’

Within a couple of hours of a large cohort of Giffnock North youngsters beating a path to the podium, who should rocket into the British Record books with a stunning win at the World Indoor final in Birmingham. Yes, the very same Neil Gourley.

There’s an abiding message in there about progression, staying in the sport, keeping youngsters keen and engaged, and we appreciate the huge amount of work clubs are putting in across this key area of development.

Giffnock of course have dominated the National XC age group podiums of late in recent years and 2023 was no exception.

But, in an impressive intervention, Harmeny AC stepped in at Falkirk to claim the U15 Boys team title, keeping Giffnock from repeating their six-strong clean sweep of 2022.

That notwithstanding, it was a superb allround performance from those in yellow, with six athletes on individual podiums in addition to those five team wins.

And indeed in that U15 Boys race, both first and third places on the individual podiums were taken by Giffnock athletes, Tristan Robin and Calum Dick, with James Alexander of Garscube in second.

Hosts Falkirk Victoria Harriers were no strangers to the team podiums, taking second in the U13 Girls and U17 Women’s team races, and third in both the U15 Girls and Boys team champs.

The remainder of the team slots were shared between Team East Lothian, Edinburgh AC, Central AC and Cambuslang Harriers.

The U15 Girls individual race saw a win for Lois Macrae of Inverness AAC, who has so impressed on the track this indoor season, most recently with a 1500m record at the Age Group Champs in Glasgow.

At U13, the individual winners were Rhuairdh Laing (VP-Glasgow AC) and Cerys Wright (Team East Lothian).

If Gourley is becoming a significant role model, then U17 Men’s champion Connor Bell of Central AC was quick to stress he had benefited from #SALtogether spirit across our sport.

‘(Double Olympian) Andy Butchart helps me out sometimes, when he is in Scotland, and that’s awesome,’ said Connor.

‘He is some guy! Stephen Mackay of Inverness has also done some indoor sessions with me so thanks to both of them.

‘I think that’s athletics in Scotland at the moment. It’s a small enough place that everyone knows everyone else and it’s great when folk help younger ones develop.’

In a similar vein, Caitlyn Heggie of Ross County, who took the U17 Women’s title, hails from Muir of Ord, and is coached by Ross Cairns. No doubt Caitlyn thus benefits from Megan Keith’s know-how.

Ross has athletes from both Ross County and Inverness Harriers - with Katie Meek of Inverness, who came third in the same race, also of part of the group (with Millie McClelland-Brooks of Inverclyde AC second in that race).

Caitlyn said: ‘We live in Muir of Ord so it is a long trip and this time we came down on the Friday night to help with the preparation.

‘I’m delighted to win and it was a good race. Millie beat me over the shorter distance at Kirkcaldy, when I took the silver, and I was glad it was a bit longer today. That suits me.

‘It’s a really good group we have at the moment and to have two of us on the podium is great for the North.’

Local hero . . . Neil was back at Giffnock North training in March to show young athletes his British and European Indoor medals

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Home from home

By Peter Jardine

The bar is set high now when Scottish athletes head to the British Indoors each February.

And we are not referring to what has become an excellent record in terms of high jump champions over the past 10 years (four).

A medal haul of 13 in 2022 was the best achieved this century with double figures not having been reached before in that period. So when Scots headed to Birmingham again for the 2023 edition it definitely looked a tall order to get anywhere near that kind of level of achievement. Particularly with the absentee list featuring Laura Muir, Jake Wightman, Josh Kerr, Jemma Reekie, Nicole Yeargin and Zoey Clark to name but six.

We need not have been concerned. The Class of 2023 stepped up in fine style to make no fewer than 10 trips to the podium to collect three golds, three silvers and four bronzes.

Will Grimsey, with that fourth high jump

triumph by a Scot over the past decade, Neil Gourley in the Men’s 1500m and the irrepressible Guy Learmonth took the golds.

Let’s start with the golden Guy. The Lasswade AAC athlete was imperious in the 800m final to land his fourth title in this event and his 11th medal in all.

He is now the most decorated Scot at the British Indoors, even though he is threatening now to drop indoor winter competition in order to put a greater emphasis on outdoors.

‘My coach and I have been talking about that and 2023 could well be my last indoor season,’ said Guy, who won in 1:47.43 in Birmingham.

‘It is something we are looking at to really maximise the summer season.

‘Training has been going really well at the moment, my group is based over in Melbourne and my coach and training group have been so great the last few months.

‘It has been no secret the last few years I haven’t enjoyed racing, but this winter I went out to Australia and came back rejuvenated. I still want to get faster.’

Neil Gourley’s kick midway through the last lap of the 1500m final was too strong for George Mills and the Giffnock athlete has had a productive winter (with a 3:49 indoor mile run in New York).

‘I’ve trained a little bit more like a 5km guy if anything just to try to catch up with the way the 1500m is being run in the world right now,’ revealed Neil.

‘It is paying off because even though I’ve been working on the strength stuff the speed is still there if not better.

Birmingham suited Scots for Commonweaths . . .

and now British Indoors medal haul is brilliant, too

Photos by Getty Images for British Athletics

‘So I’m really happy with the way things are at the moment. High standards breed high standards and that’s just what’s happening at the moment (with British athletes). It’s going to continue and it’s only getting better.’

Grimsey for his part added to the Scottish high jump lineage at the British Indoors that features Allan Smith, David Smith and Nikki Manson.

Will, seventh at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last summer, won with 2.16m at the Utilita Arena.

‘That was rusty for a season opener but I’m pleased to have won the gold,’ he said.

‘I’ve had a mixed indoors of not competing, so I’ll take any height and to get a win is pleasing.

‘I need to go back into training and then just see what happens outdoors, hopefully with consistent training I can try to make the team for Budapest. Again with some good training, heights should be a lot better than they were today so hopefully I can put myself in the mix for that and try and win the British Championships as well.’

Back to the track and a trio of endurance athletes all made podium visits – Eloise

Eloise took a bronze medal in the Women’s 3000m final. The Edinburgh AC athlete, who raced the Euro Cross in December, clocked 9:00.53 as Welsh athlete, Melissa CourtneyBryant, won gold.

Giffnock North AC athlete Wallace made a lot of the running in the Women’s 1500m final but had to settle for bronze as Ellie Baker won that one in a brilliant Championship Best.

Erin, second last year, made a big effort to try and get the European qualifying time but just missed out as she clocked at 4:09.22.

Jenny Selman took silver this year (after gold last year) in the Women’s 800m final.

‘I’m very pleased with the way I raced and to come away with a medal against the strong field that was out there makes it that much sweeter,’ said the Fife AC athlete, who clocked 2:03.68.

A fine Sunday afternoon concluded with the 400m finals and an indoor PB run of 52.98 saw Carys McAulay take bronze (and earn selection for the European Indoors in the 4x400m Relay).

‘I’ve run an indoor PB and made the podium, I’m so happy,’ said Carys, who was so unfortunate to be injured during the Commonwealths as Scotland took 4x400m Relay bronze.

‘In the summer, hard work is going to be the key. I struggled last year with mentality but I feel so much better going into races this year.’

So if that made it seven medals on the Sunday, what about the three on the Saturday?

Two arrived early in the field via joint silvers in the pole vault for Reuben Nairne and Ewan Bradley, with three men tied on 4.90m.

And Alisha Rees did well to finish third in the Women’s 60m final in 7.30 and running 7.28 in the heat and semi-final.

The sight of Rees on a British podium with Daryll Neita and Asha Philip seemed a fitting statement on Scottish sprinting improvement over the past couple of years.

We’ve only had room here to mention the ten medallists; there were other fine performances and our congratulations go to all Scottish athletes and coaches who competed in Birmingham.

The #SALtogether collective effort was thus the second best in a quarter of a century and, following on from the Commonwealths last summer, clearly England’s ‘Second City’ suits Scots.

BRITISH INDOORS – 2023 MEDALS

GOLD: Will Grimsey (High Jump); Neil Gourley (1500m); Guy Learmonth (800m)

SILVER: Reuben Nairne, Ewan Bradley (Pole Vault); Jenny Selman (800m)

BRONZE: Alisha Rees (60m); Eloise Walker (3000m); Erin Wallace (1500m); Carys McAulay (400m)

Walker, Erin Wallace and Jenny Selman – on an exciting Sunday afternoon.

Nikki’s big leap forward

Native Record is highlight at Emirates Arena

Nikki Manson is no stranger to a Scottish Indoor Record.

The Glasgow-based athlete, who has been wearing the familiar yellow vest of Giffnock North AC for a number of years, remains our current Indoor Record Holder in the high jump – with a 1.93m leap in the Czech Republic.

That was in early 2020 but, three years on, she was far closer to home for her latest entry on the all-time lists . . . as Native Record Holder for the long jump.

The Emirates Arena and the 4J Senior Champs was the stage as a superb Personal Best jump of 6.37m landed that Native accolade and went second equal on the alltime list Indoor.

It mattered little that visiting English athlete Lucy Hadaway took the gold with a CBP 6.66m, with Nikki simply pleased to back in the competition mix as she dips her toe

in Combined Events while looking for jumps improvement, too.

We asked Nikki what’s kept the fire burning over a tough couple of years?

‘That’s a good question,’ she said.

‘I think I always knew I had more to give (athletics).

‘I know there is more there with high jump . I was so gutted not making the

Olympics and then I was injured last year. The Commonwealths were on and it was disappointing not to make that. Especially at was in Birmingham and Team Scotland had so much support from family and friends.

‘So we changed our approach a bit – and started looking at Combined Events. It has not quite transpired as we had hoped over the indoor season.

‘I’d a bit of pain in my knee which was a problem for the high jump.

Men’s 1500m podium: Ben Greenwood with Jamie MacKinnon (left) and Ben Sandilands

Photos by Bobby Gavin

‘But I have really enjoyed the training for multi events – that’s been good. That’s helping keep me in the sport and I now have a group for things like pole vault. That’s a change for me because for a long while it was myself and Sam (O’Kane, coach and partner) working away pretty much on our own.

‘There are youngsters in the group and that prevents me being grumpy or moaning when coming to training!

‘A bit of that youthful enthusiasm is rubbing off. It’s all quite new and I’ve taken some pressure off myself.

‘You start to just look towards event PBs in multis and that’s what happened with the long jump at the 4J Seniors.’

Nikki’s big leap was one of a number of highlights as Scottish champions were crowned and medal moments savoured at the Emirates.

Giffnock are often prominent on these occasions and Alyson Bell and Reuben Nairne added to their roll of honour with title wins in the Women’s 60m and Men’s Pole Vault respectively.

In medal terms, the best individual performance of the day arguably belonged to Adam Hoole.

Adam was savouring a personal purple patch that week or so in the purple vest of Team

East Lothian. The 19-year-old took gold in the sprint Hurdles and followed that up with a PB to win the Men’s Long Jump.

‘I have to be really pleased with three Scottish titles in two weeks (after winning Indoor Heptathlon the previous weekend at the Emirates),’ smiled Adam.

‘Where is it coming from? There was a lot of hard work put in over the winter and a lot of help from a number of coaches, led by Jamie Bowie.

In the middle distance races, there were familiar names on the podium as Stephen Mackay of Inverness and Hannah Cameron of Aberdeen won the 800m finals.

The men’s 1500m final was an exciting race with Central AC’s Ben Greenwood just strong enough for gold as Masters athlete, Philippa Millage of VP-Glasgow, won the women’s title.

Krishawn Aiken won a thrilling finish to the Men’s 200m final as he headed Murray Fotheringham by only three hundredths of a second; with Native Record holder Dean Patterson in third place – at the age of 17. ‘I’m pleased to win it and it was close with Murray at the finish – I could feel him getting close,’ said Krishawn.

‘Dean’s such a tremendous prospect and he is already my hero. He has the Native Record

‘I’m really enjoying my athletics at the moment and it was five PBs at the Combined Events and then a big improvement again in the Long Jump at the 4J Seniors.’

Bell won the Women’s 60m in 7.48 while Ethan Sabah Pottie took the Men’s title. Jane Davidson won the Women’s 60m Hurdles final.

from the National Open and that still stands after today so fair play to him.’

In the field event, Sara Barbour took the women’s Pole Vault title and there were shot putt golds for Angus McInroy and Amy Kennedy.

‘I have really enjoyed the training for multi events – that’s been good ’

Hannah Cameron

Sara Barbour

Or so she was told.

Katy Barden meets

Katie Purves

A former Scottish U18 athlete of the year, Katie Purves had the world at her feet.

A talented and versatile sprinter, she won the first of many national titles in 2008. As she continued to progress through the age-groups, she turned heads and made headlines.

At 17, in 2014, she won her first Scottish Senior title (400mH). Externally, she was living the dream. Internally, she was living a nightmare.

Only in recent years has the now-26-yearold been able to speak about the mental challenges she faced.

‘Growing up, I think a lot of young athletes have a problem with a fear of failure,’ she told scottishathletics following the 2019 Scottish Championships where she enjoyed a welcome return to form.

‘Perseverance in sport is vital. If you want it enough, you will get there, even though there will be plateaus and pitfalls along the way.’

In this interview, Katie opens up about her own experiences in the hope that she can help others navigate through tough times

Growing up I really, really struggled with my mental health and my mum and dad were probably quite lost with what to do with me.

over. I went into self-destruct mode and I didn’t care about anything or anyone.

It could literally be a meet with no significance, but to me, because I had so much pressure piled onto me at such a young age, it felt like it was so substantial. It wasn’t just about winning or losing. If I won but I hadn’t run a personal

I think it was the combination of being a very driven person both in school and in athletics. I was quite hard on myself and had a fear of failing or letting people down.

driven person both in school and in athletics.

It actually came about because I did well. I developed this form of almost panic leading to avoidance because I’d got straight As in my Highers at the same as winning three British junior titles in athletics.

I best, that wasn’t good enough either.

I suppose I didn’t know where and when to get the right support. Over the years my coaches would take me to a physio

school were onto me, and it was like, ‘She’s

Suddenly I had an article in the paper, my school were onto me, and it was like, ‘She’s going to go to the Commonwealth Games, she’s going to do this, that and the other.’

But what they didn’t realise was that for me to get that level of success I’d been very, very, rigid. I was quite restrictive with my eating and I’d been self-harming since I was 11-years-old, so I maybe had a predisposition to suffer from a mental illness.

It took me a while to open up to my parents. They couldn’t see that I was struggling because I was able to hide it, but if a race didn’t go well it was like my life was

‘I’ve learned the hard way it’s not all about medals and PBs. which are much bigger than actual hurdles. And

appointment, they’d help me get stronger in the gym, they’d help me run faster, but that all means nothing if you’re not mentally prepared on the day, and that’s why it started to fall apart. Coaches can definitely help athletes by knowing where and when to signpost to support services.

I hit a point where I’d suppressed things for so long that I couldn’t do it any more. I was being offered practical and physical solutions to mental problems and I really needed a different university because I didn’t think I had I was becoming really controlling with my eating and trying to be super-healthy. I didn’t go out with my friends because I didn’t want to drink. I wasn’t being a teenager. Everything was about athletics and it had the complete opposite effect because it then meant that if I ran badly, I had nothing

approach. I left enough time to train. controlling again else.

trying to live the life of an Olympic athlete but I wasn’t an Olympic athlete and I didn’t have a sports psychologist or

whatever to help me with that. I was putting in all the work but it wasn’t paying off.

I started to think that I didn’t know how to run. All I could think about on the start line was stride patterns, when to rest, when to breathe, left leg, right leg. I should have just been racing. That was the point where I started to get quite unwell and I’d look for reasons not to compete.

When I started to go to the track for me, rather than for a coach or a training group, things improved.

I went to America and that was a disaster for so many reasons. I stayed for a year.

When I came back to Scotland I took a break then started coaching myself. I’d go down to the track and make a up a

session, or I’d go to the gym and make a up a session. I just did what my body felt like it wanted to do that day.

I was absolutely loving life, honestly. I didn’t even know if I’d compete again, I was just doing it for me.

When I spoke to scottishathletics (at the Scottish Championships) in 2019, the difference was that I was happy. I wanted to be there and I wasn’t afraid. I’d put myself first and I’d chosen to be there for all the right reasons - because it’s meant to be fun. I wish I could have said that to my 11-yearold self.

I then joined a coaching group and I was open about the issues I had.

Even when I was happy and I was running well I was still very anxious and stressed, but the difference was I’d tell people. Saying it out loud took away the fear of it.

But during Covid, the dynamic changed and that was quite hard to deal with.

We want to retain people in the sport and for them to enjoy it, so if that means that one athlete fits well with one coach, and another athlete fits better with another coach, that’s ok. What works perfectly for some people doesn’t necessarily work for others.

What’s changed for me now? I’ve got a new coach. I came across her Instagram page, and I thought, ‘I’m going to reach out and see if I can join her group.’

She agreed to meet me for coffee. She laid out what she could do for me and I laid out for her what I’m like, how I react in training settings, my triggers, and what I would need from her. Instantly, we seemed to click. At the start of winter training 2021 she was just so proud of me. Just wee compliments throughout the session.

Turn PB Interview Katie Purves

PBs. It’s about clearing mental barriersit is about loving your sport ’

It was strange to be able to go to training and to be so open, to be able to say, ‘I’m on my period’, or, ‘I’m really stressed out from work today’, and to be able to have a cry before getting back onto the start line.

Before, I’d never been able to run over to someone at the end of a race to celebrate. Even if we don’t achieve the big goal, we are achieving little things along the way in training and it’s become more about enjoying the journey, enjoying the training, enjoying the coach-athlete relationship. Because that’s your real life. It’s not all about the result, the final time you run. I’ve just started to enjoy the process a lot more.

Being able to admit that you’re struggling is so important in order to get better.

I was a young girl that cared a lot and I think that’s what caused so much pressure and anxiety.

If someone had told me it was ok to feel like that, that those feelings were valid, things might have been different, but I was never given that reassurance. It was like nothing was ever good enough and I think I’ve taken that into my adult life.

I’m now over 1000 days with no selfharming which is a massive thing for me. The sad thing is that the last time I did it was indoor Scottish Seniors because I came second. You should never punish yourself for losing and it really upsets me that I felt the need to do that.

Also, don’t be afraid to make changes. Move training group if it doesn’t make you happy or it’s not working for you. It’s about what’s best for you as an athlete.

You need to discuss everything and try and

find solutions. Then, if it is not working for you, consider making changes.

I definitely think a wee bit self-reflection for athletes and coaches could be useful, and if someone reads this and it helps them, then it’s been worth talking about.

Want to ream more about Mental Health?

We’ve a section on our website:

https://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/ about/welfare/mental-health-wellbeing/

Support our sport . . . become an Official

One of our key messages is that everyone has a role to play in athletics in Scotland – and becoming an Official is a key area.

Our dedicated team of scottishathletics qualified Officials are the ones who make events happen week in, week out across the year and in the range of disciplines.

We need more people to commit some time to help and there are usually Officials courses scheduled . Why not sign-up and start your officiating journey?

It’s enjoyable to be at events, be part of a team and to help make a vital contribution to the pathway for athletes and their coaches and clubs.

Don’t just take our word for it . . .

‘I’ve been an Official since 2012,’ said Rob Dalziel.

‘I started out as a parent helper when my daughter was competing and I have worked my way through the qualification system. It has kept me in the sport after my girls stopped competing.

‘I love it because there is a great camaraderie and it is so enjoyable to see young athletes come through the ranks with their clubs and then progress – with some making it to international level.

‘If you have some hours to spare or are at a time in your life when looking for something new, then I’d highly recommend being an Official.

‘It gets you out and about to events, you are part of a team and you are giving something back to the sport.

‘We are looking for people of any age really and it is always good to see younger folk coming in.

‘Having said that, I do think people who are maybe taking early retirement, or indeed thinking about it and looking for a new aspect to their life, then becoming an Official can be ideal.

‘I’m just retiring myself so that probably gives me more time to commit to being an Official and I am looking forward to that.’

Current athlete, Lesley Rogers, is at a different stage from Rob but no less enthusiastic.

‘I’ve been involved for almost two years as an Official and started, really, because my parents were doing it,’ said Lesley.

‘I wanted to join in and help out. I would urge anyone to take up officiating in Scotland. I am still an athlete myself but I am now working with a great group of volunteers to help deliver events.’

As the Indoor Season and Cross Country conclude, it’s really important that we recognise the amount of work put in by our Officials and volunteers in recent months.

‘We’d just like to say a massive thank you to all the Officials for their hard work,’ said Shona Malcolm, our Officials Development Officer.

‘It’s been a solid two months in a row both at cross country events and track and field events, and then in between there’s been some school events as well, and some of those Officials have been out every weekend and through the week.

‘So it’s a massive than you to them for all their hard work, dedication and commitment to the sport over that time.’

Shona encouraged more people to consider whether they could contribute to the sport as an Official. Many of our Officials are also coaches, athletes, or parents of those involved in the sport, and can choose how much time they spend officiating.

‘You can do as little or as much as you like, it’s a hobby, if you have children in the sport and then they eventually go to college you can still be a part of that athletics family and have that hobby for yourself. We welcome anyone for any commitment they can give,’ Shona said.

Visit the Officials section of our website to find out more, or contact Shona

shonamalcolm@scottishathletics.org.uk 07731 832567

Learning curve . . . new Officials find out more about what they need to do (above) and Shona Malcolm (right)

By Katy Barden

he 2022 calendar year marked the resurgence of Scottish women’s sprinting and a return to high profile international competition for the 4 x 100m relay quartet.

It was also the year that Taylah Paterson’s dreams came true.

The Orkney-based midwife, who had previously excelled in netball, celebrated her first Scotland vest in athletics in May and subsequently competed at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She also got married, and, later in the year, shared the news that she was pregnant with her first child.

‘You couldn’t have written it, it was just so amazing from start to finish,’ she reflects.

‘The Loughborough International was my goal going into the season.

‘The Commonwealth Games was just a dream and it definitely wasn’t on the radar. Realistically, I hadn’t even had a Scotland vest yet, so it was one thing at a time in my head.

Taylah’s out the blocks

Joy of Scotland vest and Commonwealth relay final are exciting signs for future

T‘May was the turning point. I wasn’t in the team (for Loughborough) to start with and I was absolutely beside myself, then a couple of days later the selectors were in touch and wanted me on the team, so it was a total roller-coaster of emotions.

‘It went from Scotland selection for Loughborough to, ‘While we’re at it, do you want to come to the Diamond League?’.

‘The Diamond League (competing in the 4 x 100m relay) ended up being my first Scotland vest and to get the Scottish record too, it just went from one extreme to the other.’

Following the Müller Birmingham Diamond League, the relay quartet of Rebecca Matheson, Alisha Rees, Sarah Malone and Paterson (who ran under her maiden name Spence at the time of competition) went on to match their new national record and Commonwealth Games qualifying time of 44.75 in Geneva.

They were rewarded with selection to represent Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games where they

reached the final - the first Scottish women’s team to do so since Edinburgh in 1986 - and finished eighth.

It concluded a hectic couple of weeks for the 24-year-old who had got married a week prior to her exploits in Birmingham.

‘I honestly just embraced it all,’ she says. ‘It was only afterwards I looked back and thought, ‘I actually did all that’.

‘I remember my mum saying the year before, ‘Hopefully we’ll not have to worry about the Commonwealth Games clashing with the wedding,’. It was a total joke, because it wasn’t on the radar and we obviously wouldn’t have put our wedding date then if we’d thought it was a realistic goal. So it’s funny how it ended up.’

As an islander, Paterson, who is coached by Eoghan MacNamara, is used to facing challenges. Weather conditions for training are not always favourable off the north coast of Scotland and travel to and from competitions is costly, both in terms of time commitment and money.

Not only that, but her full-time job as a midwife - much like her athletics careerrequires great dedication. Day and night shifts take their toll, while getting called out from home in the middle of the night is also commonplace.

Fortunately, she has the support of a fantastic group of colleagues who are, whenever possible, willing to swap shifts to enable her to compete. Without them, such balance wouldn’t be possible.

With her baby due in the summer, she’s giving herself the best chance possible to be ready for the next Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Australia. Closer to home, the International Island Games in Orkney in 2025 provides an additional motivation.

‘I like that I’ve maybe shown people that you don’t have to restrict yourself just because you live up here (in Orkney),’ she reflects.

‘I definitely wouldn’t be doing what I do if I didn’t love it, but I always knew that a Scotland vest was doable. It’s just being confident, having goals and believing in yourself.

‘Now I’m so excited about the next chapter of my career. We nearly didn’t get to go to Birmingham because there was such a pressure on numbers, but to get that experience, going forward to the next Commonwealth Games it can only be positive.

‘There’s so much potential there and not just the four of us, there are obviously others who could come into that team. There’s so much more depth in female sprinting in Scotland now and I can only see it getting better.’

‘Seeing is believing’

Coach Ryan thrilled by sprints revival

By Katy Barden

‘Last summer was really quite exciting,’ reflects coach Ryan Oswald.

‘As an athlete I didn’t get to the Commonwealth Games, but as a coach I managed to get both Zoey and Rebecca to Birmingham.

‘It was Rebecca’s first Games, and just to see her excitement . . . I said to her, ‘You know, I didn’t have this opportunity, so take it with both hands and enjoy it. Squeeze every last bit of opportunity out of it,’ and she certainly did.’

Oswald is an Aberdeen-based software engineer and a multiple Scottish sprints champion.

He moved into coaching in 2021 and guides a group of athletes including Great Britain international Zoey Clark, European and Commonwealth 4x400m relay bronze medallist in 2022, and Rebecca Matheson, a member of Scotland’s 4x100m Commonwealth Games relay quartet.

Having been out in Geneva to witness the 4x100m team equal their own Scottish record and Commonwealth Games qualifying time (44.75) in June, Oswald laughs when he recalls their post-race debrief, a discussion he likens to the five stages of grief.

‘We were sitting having lunch afterwards and they went through every emotion,’ he says.

‘Right in front of me they went from ‘Surely they’ll pick us (for Birmingham), we’ve got the standard . . . .’, on to, ‘They’ll have to pick us,’ and then finally, ‘Oh no, I don’t think they’re going to pick us.’’

That the team was eventually selected was hugely positive, not just for the athletes and their coaches, but also for the sport more generally.

‘It was really great to see pretty much every sprint event filled at the Commonwealths,’ says Oswald.

‘For all those athletes who competed in Birmingham, just being there validates their career and all that training. Obviously we want medals and finalists, and it was great to see the 4x400m women win bronze.

‘But, for the likes of Rebecca, that could be a defining point in her career. She’ll always remember that. Hopefully we retain these people in the sport and they go on to bigger and better things. And, at the same time, inspire others.’

Oswald believes that many factors have contributed to the recent success in Scottish sprinting, not least the strength and depth across both men’s and women’s events.

He references the men’s 100m as an example: ‘There were 20+ runners running sub-11 seconds in Scotland last year.

‘When I was competing, there were only a handful. It’s the same for women with regards to breaking 12 seconds. The depth has really improved.’

He welcomes younger coaches coming through and references former international hurdlers Allan Scott and Chris Baillie, as well as Francis Smith and Eoghan MacNamara (who coaches Taylah Paterson).

He also talks about role models - Eilidh Doyle, he says, was an incredible role model for Clark - as well as athletes taking every opportunity to better themselves.

The Commonwealth Games effect, of course, should not be underestimated: ‘I think since Glasgow (2014) our athletes have started to believe there are opportunities to get involved in relay teams.

‘Just seeing Scottish sprinters on TV, you can see the junior athletes thinking, ‘I train for that . . . one day that could be me.’

Scaling new heights

Hill running suits Naomi

By Katy Barden

‘Where

does your athletics future lie?’.

It’s not a trick question, but for an athlete who has represented Great Britain and Scotland in the mountains, represented Scotland on the track, and won national track titles over 1500m and 5000m, it’s fairly loaded.

‘I think the hills suit my lifestyle,’ replies Naomi Lang after a brief pause. ‘The past couple of years I’ve been moving more and more away from track or going longer. I enjoy it, but I prefer spending time in the hills.’

Lang, 23, is smart. She’s a sport science graduate from the University of Edinburgh but is going back to university in September to study medicine.

She’s hard-working and is currently working full-time hours across two jobs, one in a coffee van, the other at Go Ape. She’s also talented and sufficiently laid back that she didn’t fall to pieces when called up for her first Senior GB vest only days prior to the team’s departure to the World Mountain Running Championships in Thailand last year.

‘I found out four days before which was quite funny,’ says the Carnethy HRC athlete who finished 25th in the up and down race.

‘It probably suited me, though, because I’m not much of a planner. It was a bit surreal, but it was very relaxed, I guess.’

Originally from the northeast and brought up to love the outdoors, Lang says the hills

are her natural habitat. She swam as a youth but showed greater potential at running and joined Aberdeen AAC when she was in her early teens.

Within three years she had represented Scotland over 3000m at the Commonwealth Youth Games and won her first national track titles. Her success coincided with her final year of school, and as she prepared to start university in Edinburgh, track remained her focus.

While her choice to spend an exchange year in Canada mid-degree had been partly influenced by Vancouver’s ‘cool’ vibe and the draw of the surrounding mountains, her talent for hill-running, competitively at least, didn’t become obvious until she graduated and moved to the Lake District to work in a hostel.

Earning her first Scotland vest on the hills during that period - she finished first U23 in the 2021 British Championships and World Mountain Running Championships selection race - Lang admits it was the obvious choice of running terrain for the location.

‘The Lakes is obviously a very convenient place to do hill races and hill running,’ she says. ‘I did a couple of local ones . . . I wanted something to focus on when I was there and I was quite keen to give it a go. More and more of my running ended up being in the hills. It’s just really enjoyable for me.’

For the first half of 2022 Lang worked

as a healthcare assistant in the intensive care unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. It was an intentional move as she decided what her career might look like long-term.

For now, however, Edinburgh remains home for the Lewis Walker-coached athlete. She has a trusted support network including Kenny Watt at Project: Physio who plays an integral role in keeping her healthy.

She also has a strong and varied group of athletes to train with, acknowledging the ‘sheer number of distance runners in Edinburgh’ who make it easy to find company.

With another World Mountain Running Championships this year, she will return to the hills with increased confidence and motivation.

‘I did have a bit of debate about whether to do the longer one or whether to do the up and down, but I’ve gone for the up and down,’ she says (referring to the upcoming trials). “I didn’t have a bad run in Thailand, but I feel like I have unfinished business.’

Holly Page, Naomi Lang and Scout Adkin landed World Champs silver in the up-and-down race in Thailand

SUPPORTING ATHLETES AND BUILDING

Inspire Aspire Engage

Team East Lothian striving for lofty goals via big ideas

By Katy Barden

‘In many ways we’ve gone further than we ever anticipated and yet, in other areas, like the facilities side of things, we’d hoped the situation would have been better,’ says Team East Lothian AC chair Stuart Donnelly when asked about the club’s progress.

Donnelly joined the club a decade ago, not long after it was formed in 2012 by Dunbar Running Club, Haddington Running Club and Musselburgh and District AC.

The initial aim of the collaboration was to develop an East Lothian-based pathway for young athletes to reach their full potential. Already there is evidence of success, with a number of junior athletes having represented Scotland over the past 12 months.

While facilities continue to provide a challenge, it was the track at Meadowmill (opened in 2012) which spearheaded the innovative pathway approach, while

on-going efforts to build an indoor arena could provide further incentive for the club’s talented athletes to stay local rather than relocate to Edinburgh.

Donnelly, our 2022 4J Volunteer of the Year, says the stability of facilities is now a key priority.

‘We’ve been looking at what needs to happen in the long-term for facilities in East Lothian, and we’ve been talking to the council for six or seven years now.

‘We had initial plans, much like Kilbarchan, to put in a 50-60m indoor track for sprints training in the winter. We’d have space for doing some jumps and throws and hopefully also a gym space for strength and conditioning . . . but Meadowmill is an interesting site. It used to have a coalmine underneath it, so there are potentially issues there.’

Since joining the ambitious club, Donnelly, who is a software engineer, has volunteered across a variety of roles including coaching, officiating, fundraising, and community engagement. He was also involved in

the development of the Run, Jump, Throw programme in partnership with East Lothian Council.

Perhaps most notably, he also formed the initial relationship with Paddy Burns, CEO of 4J Studios, best known for developing Minecraft for Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo consoles, which led to the support from 4J for Team East Lothian (and later Scottish Athletics).

‘I drew up a list of companies in East Lothian who we could approach and who might be interested in funding,’ he explains.

‘4J was top of the list. I emailed Paddy and said, ‘Would you be interested in sponsoring our cross country event?’, and he asked what we’d spend the money on. I sent back a list of equipment and he said he’d pay for all of it. Then he asked, ‘What else do you need?’. They’re just brilliant.’

Since then, 4J’s support has been integral to Team East Lothian’s progress - in particular facility development - and has included part-funding (together with Tyne Esk Leader)

a new roof on the club’s viewing facility at Meadowmill to create a more substantial stand, in addition to creating an area for warm-up, strength and conditioning, and pole vault.

There are other projects underway. While they’ve not yet got to the point ‘of talking numbers’, Burns and 4J are equally keen to make the indoor facility happen, while an ongoing project in Dunbar will, on completion, create a new strength and conditioning facility.

Prior to the backing of 4J, Team East Lothian were already breaking the mould. The club opted to pay its coaches in order to attract the level of coach it believed was necessary to support the quality athlete pathway it aspired to. The club also pay a third of the salary of the county’s Athletics Development

Hard work fuels purple patch

The rise of Team East Lothian is well documented.

While Corey Campbell deservedly won our 4J U17 Athlete of the Year for 2022, the club’s depth of talent is notable and evidenced by the fact that four athletesCampbell, Fraser Lupton, Aidan Page and Maja Thomson - represented Scotland at the TCS Mini London Marathon.

Campbell, naturally, is grabbing the headlines. Over the last 12 months the 16-year-old has won national titles on the track and in cross country, in addition to breaking a host of records.

‘I think we’re doing a lot of things right,’ says Team East Lothian lead endurance coach Alister Russell.

background in triathlon from a successful period of coaching in the USA. He joined Team East Lothian as a paid endurance coach in 2014 - a fairly unique concept - and works alongside Stuart Donnelly and Fiona Macauley.

His philosophy is focused on making his athletes better in general terms, before turning them into endurance athletes.

‘We’ve got a mix of abilities but they all work very hard,’ he says. ‘There’s definitely a trickle-down effect from seeing that the athletes who are doing well are not actually any different to them. That’s really important.

Officer in partnership with the council and local leisure trust.

‘We’re looking to inspire and engage people,’ says Donnelly, in conclusion.

‘We’ve got athletes that have the ability to inspire the rest of the county. We’re also looking at what we can do as a club to ensure that long term the facilities are there, that the coaches are there, the infrastructure is there and the pathway is there.’

While challenges lie ahead, Team East Lothian is ambitious and thriving. With the support of 4J and a dedicated group of athletes, coaches, and officials, their forward-thinking approach will continue to drive success on and off the track.

It’s a modest statement given the group’s success, but it alludes to a culture of continued learning and development for athletes and coaches.

There are things that are no longer textbook,’ he says of teenage star Campbell.

Of the group more generally, he adds: ‘I think it comes down to being demand driven rather than doing what’s been done for 40 or 50 years.

‘What does the event actually require and what does the athlete bring to the table right now . . . and where are the gaps? I think sometimes we’ve been quite innovative in the things we do, so I’m pulling in things from sprints, from swimming and from triathlon.’

In addition to athletics, Russell has a

‘I’m very proud of what the youngsters in the group have achieved over the last few years; not only on the track, but also in the rest of their lives . . . I’m sure some of them will go on to do something special.

‘I’m also very proud of the environment that we’ve been able to set up that’s allowed them to thrive and succeed. Stuart has been at the centre of making that happen, but Fiona, the various committee members, and 4J have all been involved in allowing us to push forward.

‘There’s a huge amount of work that goes on in the background that enables us to do what we do at the track and there are a lot of things we couldn’t have done without Paddy (4J) being there.’

Corey Campbell

By Katy Barden

British 100k champion

Jo Wilson laughs when she recalls her first bold steps towards 26.2 miles back in 2012 . . .

‘I just remember thinking, ‘an ultra is beyond a marathon . . . no way!’’

The Fife-based athlete (formerly Jo Murphy), a detective constable in the police, was training for Lochaber Marathon.

She was a relative novice at the time and learning along the way, benefiting from the expertise of her Carnegie club mates who helped her build up mileage and provided company on long runs, as well as offering advice on nutrition and fuelling. She finished in 3:39:40.

Over the next three years she got quicker, but she wanted to go further, too. ‘I just needed another challenge,’ she says.

Knowing her purpose has been a driving force for Wilson since she first started running at primary school. Her mum, who sadly died of cancer when her daughter was only 16, was a busy single parent and the cross country club provided a welcome afterschool activity.

As she navigated through her teenage years with the support of her older brother and sister and their gran who lived nearby, she wanted to do well and make them proud, in spite of the surrounding chaos.

When she stepped up the distance and finished first woman in the D33 (Deeside Ultra) in 2015, it was a building block towards the Cateran Trail race (55 miles) and an opportunity to fundraise for charities close to her heart.

‘That was my drive to make sure I could do the distance,’ she says. ‘I’m quite motivated anyway, but I wanted to do something with a bit of purpose.’

Now she’s competing at the highest level, Wilson continues to smile, and continues to make her family proud.

In 2022, following her course record performance of 7:41:12 to win the Anglo Celtic Plate International and British 100k Championships in Perth in April, she finished 14th at the IAU 100km World Championships in Berlin in August in a personal best time of 7:38:10 which took her to fifth on the UK all-time list.

It’s been an incredible progression for the 35-year-old who couldn’t comprehend the mentality of ultra-running when she prepared for her marathon debut 11 years ago.

‘Because, for me, the intensity is pretty

similar (for marathon and ultra), I just dial in a pace that I think is sustainable for a distance,’ she says of her successful transition. ‘I think you just kind of learn through your training.

‘Also, if you were to do a comparison of my mileage compared to other ultra-runners, I’m probably a lot lower. I sit at a base of maybe 60 miles and build up to 70. My absolute peak is 80-85 and that’s really near a race, so it’s probably quite low.

‘I’m quite a social creature and have a lot on outwith running, but I’ll always make time for my sessions and I think I’ve just got the balance right.’

In addition to her mileage, Wilson, who has been coached by Neil MacNicol since 2021, does a running-specific gym session twice per week.

In such a down-to-earth athlete, common sense also prevails.

‘I don’t run at pace outside of sessions, relative to my own ability,’ she says.

‘If I’m tired, I’ll think nothing of running 9min/ miles, then I’m fresh for the session day. It’s been about making small gains and Neil says that it’s my consistency that has made the improvement.

‘I am generally a good eater, too. Every woman has body hang ups, but I run for performance and I eat for performance. I stand on the start line and I’m well aware I look different to a lot of ultra-runners, but I’m going out and I’m beating them, so you’ve just got to be confident in your ability. I’ll have what I want to eat. I’ll have a drink at the weekend. I live a normal life, I really do. Whilst aesthetically I might not look like your typical ultra-marathoner, my body is fit and strong and it serves me well.

Wilson thrives on purpose. She is targeting the 24-Hour World Championships in China in December, but before then she has the British 100 mile track record in her sights - a mark of 14:10:41 currently held by her Hour 7 teammate Sam Amend - at the Centurian Track 100 event in April.

‘I’m just doing something that I love, and to do it well is probably just a bonus for me,’ she reflects.

‘I think there’s scope for me to go faster over 100k, I’d like to think that I could creep up the Scottish rankings and contend with that top time at some point, but it won’t be easy.

‘There have been tough times, but honestly, running has just been everything I needed and it continues to be. I just love the feeling I get from it.’

Jo happy to now go the extra miles

Photo by Steve Adam

‘Running has just been everything I needed. I just love the feeling I get from it ’

Jo with Jason Kelly at World 100k

Athletics Trust Scotland has launched its rst project to improve the health and wellbeing of communities in Scotland.

Called ‘Transforming Lives’, the project aims to capitalise on record levels of participation in running and athletics and the success of our top stars.

The Trust is backed by Eilidh Doyle, Scotland’s most decorated track and eld athlete, and Paralympic champion Jo Butter eld. Both are Trustees.

It will focus on increasing involvement in running and athletics in areas of higher deprivation and within underrepresented groups in Scotland.

ATS hopes to secure funding of £500,000 over ve years to employ local participation leaders in areas of higher deprivation.

The Transforming Lives project will also fund ‘start-up kits’ for local running and athletics groups in priority areas and provide equipment, development of volunteer coaches and a fund to help talented athletes reach their full potential.

Paralympian Derek Rae has a signi cant story to tell in #transforminglives terms and the Fife AC athlete is keen to share his experience. So is Nicola Russell, a wheelchair athlete with Ayr Seaforth AC.

Derek Rae

How and when did you initially get involved in running or athletics?

Initially I took up running to improve my fitness for my football matches. I quickly realised I had a talent for it and started entering races.

I also quickly realised that – unlike football, where I was dependant on my teammates putting a shift in – it was all on me. If I

wanted to see and feel improvements it was down to me to get the work done. I liked that. It also had a huge impact on my football. What I lacked in ability, I made up for in fitness.

Many people assume that running and athletics is simply about physical tness bene ts and achievement. What’s your experience?

I think physical fitness is definitely a motivator in running. We run to get fit or stay fit but there is a lot more to it than that.

Regardless if you do 10 minutes, 10k or 100 minutes, the physiological benefits are unmeasurable. Personally, running has been my way of coping with life. Good or bad.

#transforminglives stories –How has running and athletics transformed your life?

Athletics hasn’t only transformed my life, it has saved my life and now is my life.

Being fit and healthy has always been a focal point in my life and luckily for me when I needed it most, my years of hard work and dedication paid off.

Then, around 12 years ago, I was in serious motorcycle accident. I ended up in Ninewells Hospital fighting for my life. I was told by the surgeon who saw me the night of my accident that if I wasn’t as fit, I wouldn’t be alive.

I had been running because I enjoyed it but, after hearing that, I wanted to run because I was thankful.

During my rehab, the aim of running again seemed a long way off but with the support of my team, friends and family I had my first run five months after my accident.

There are no words to describe how I felt that day.

In all honesty I didn’t think I’d ever run again. But, through having a positive mindset, resilience and patience, I achieved the unthinkable.

Since that run in December 2010, I’ve run 10 marathons, represented Great Britain at the London Marathon from 2015-2019, taken my marathon time from 3:03 (preaccident) to 2:27.08 (London 2019), been

‘Athletics hasn’t only transformed my life, it has saved my life and now is my life ’

Derek Rae; GB Paralympian and Fife AC

to two Paralympic Games (Rio and Tokyo), been a professional athlete since 2016, met some amazing lifelong friends along the way and most importantly, I’ve loved every minute of it.

How would you describe the running and athletics community?

For me the whole running community has been great.

Yes, I can see why new runners can find it quite intimidating due to the size of it, but there aren’t many sports where you’ll happily knock lumps out of each other from the minute the gun goes off!

Regardless of who finishes first, you are genuinely happy for your competitor and thank them for pushing you on. That’s what makes running so special and I think the community in athletics in Scotland is exactly that – one big community.

Nicola Russell

How did you get involved in athletics?

I started running when I became physically disabled around six years ago.

I run in my everyday wheelchair, with and without my dogs. This year I was welcomed into the Scottish Disability Cross Country 1km to be the first person to run the course in a wheelchair.

I also raced Roon The Toon, winning the women’s 10k championships and have run trail races including Run The Blades 10k 3 times in my everyday wheelchair.

How has the sport helped you?

Running for me dramatically improves my mental health. It gives me a purpose, goals to work towards and a sense of achievement.

It helps my physical health as well. There are times I can’t run because of my disabilities but I train and compete when I can. The physical and mental health benefits are important to me.

How would you describe the running and athletics community?

Supportive and fun. When training or taking part in events I find other runners and volunteers are usually very supportive and we all encourage each other.

What are some of the challenges that you have faced?

I have been trying to fund a racing wheelchair for years but so far have not been able to.

So I continue to race and train as best as I can in the events I can. I still hope one day I can get a racing wheelchair and train for track racing. I also take part in Framerunning, which I took up last year.

I mainly run with one leg. My disabilities mean I can’t stand unaided or walk but Framerunning allows me to use the strength I do have in my legs as best as I can.

I am blessed to be able to borrow a Framerunner as there is no way I could fund

one. I have also faced challenges trying to mainstream races (such as trail runs and road races) in my wheelchair. I believe this is because people just aren’t aware these courses are achievable by wheelchair users. I think there is a fear element and sometimes insurance issues.

How has athletics transformed your life?

Staying as active as I can for as long as I can. Trying to become the best version of myself and moving forward.

It is helping me to realise that my disability does not need to stop me from being active . . . I am trying wheelchair racing, Framerunning, seated throws . . . on the track, off road or trail running.

No matter what I do, I can achieve. I can have fun and I can always stay as active as possible.

Iain ‘Windy’ Wilson is Scotland’s favourite amateur weatherman, charming his 360,000-strong legion of followers on social media with his no nonsense delivery of the forecast every day.

Regardless of how miserable the weather might be, he always raises a smile.

He retired two years ago at the age of 53 and took up running in 2018.

Now he is another key #transforminglives story-teller for Athletics Trust Scotland.

What’s your running story Iain?

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes around 10 years ago and since then I’ve focused much more on my health and lifestyle.

Taking up running was life changing for me.

I started in July 2018, inspired by my wife who ran the hottest ever London Marathon that year, and I joined my local club, Five Star Run Club in Auchterarder.

What have you done since?

I’ve moved quickly up through the distances and completed four Ultra’s, London and Berlin Marathon and 10 half marathons.

I’ve got Chicago Marathon in a few weeks and aim to do London Marathon and New York Marathon in 2023.

My plan is then to do Boston and Tokyo Marathons in 2024 – completing the Abbott World Major Marathons and earning the famous Six Star Medal. By that time, they may have added Sydney as a Seventh star, so I might have to do that too!

And your charity fundraising is amazing!

I’m so grateful for people’s generosity – it powers me along and gets me through the tough periods in my long runs.

I’ve managed to raise more than £170,000 in total for various charities since 2014, and these days all my fundraising is through my marathons and ultra marathons.

Many people assume running is about physical tness and achievement. What’s your experience?

Absolutely not. I would say that mental health plays a bigger role. I run to eat and keep fit.

The mental and social benefits are huge but are simply not recognised well enough, which is such a great pity.

The running community has been so supportive and helpful to me!

What’s your #transforminglives message?

Encouraging people from troubled backgrounds to participate in running or athletics can change the course of their lives.

I’m right behind that as a concept and as project from Athletics Trust Scotland.

If ATS, through the wider athletics community in Scotland, can put in support to make this happen through the #transforminglives project that’s a really important step.

‘I would say that mental health plays a bigger role. I run to eat and keep fit’