Great news from Toruń, Poland at the World Masters Indoor Championships as Colin Welsh has qualified 3rd fastest for tomorrow nights M35 800m final.
Colin finished third in heat 1, which was the fastest of the 3 heats, clocking 1:59.51 and will return to the track tomorrow night to compete in the final, 19:11 our time.
In what’s undoubtedly been a stellar season for Eilidh Jaffray, the best is yet to come.
Hawick High School pupil Eilidh (17), has made great strides
over the last 18 months and her dedication to running has been rewarded with the
chance to represent Scotland at next month’s Virgin Money Giving London Mini
Marathon.
An event previously won by four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah, there is two age groups (Under-17 & Under-15) competing with both boys and girls categories. The races follow the last three miles of the World-famous Marathon route from London’s Old Billingsate to the finish on The Mall.
Eilidh secured Under-17 Women’s selection with a fine performance at the recent Young Athletes Road Races held at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, by finishing 5th.
Eilidh’s 2018-19 District and National CV is quite an impressive read –
18th at the National Short Course Cross Country Championships at Lanark in November
5th at the East District Cross Country Championships at Aberdeen in December
12th at the Inter Districts Cross Country at Stirling in January
5th at the Scottish National Cross Country Championships at Falkirk in February
5th at the Young Athletes Road Races held at Ingliston in March
“It’s an honour to be selected to run for Scotland,” says a delighted
Eilidh. “I’m very surprised at how far I’ve come from being a very awkward
looking runner (her own opinion) and even on one occasion accidentally wearing
my mum’s trail shoes at the National Cross Country Championships.”
And ‘very far’ she has certainly come, for things might have been totally different if a highly talented swimmer had stuck to her original sport of choice.
“I started swimming when I was about nine-years old and I
joined the Borders Elite Swim Team when I was 11,” explains Eilidh. “The
training regime involved getting up at 4:30am up to five times a week to train
in Gala or Selkirk and I also trained three nights a week in Hawick.”
Eilidh ultimately found herself in need of a change. “I fell
out of love with swimming, so I started running,” she openly admits.
Dad Raymond, a long-time runner himself, provided plenty support
towards the prospect of eldest daughter Eilidh trying out another sport, one so
close to his own heart.
Eilidh remembers those first tentative running steps; “My
dad definitely encouraged me to start running, although I do remember the first
time he took me up the ‘Flex,’ when I was dead on my feet and he was jogging
along, however, now I can give him a good run for his money.”
The devotion and commitment it takes to train and compete as
a swimmer has probably been a huge catalyst that’s allowed Eilidh to adapt so
well to the rigours of running. “I really enjoy my training,” says explains.
“I train six days a week with Friday as my day off and at
the weekends I usually go for a long off-road run. I follow my dad/coaches
training plan.”
Having stanchly dedicated herself to training, Eilidh is now reaping the rewards. Alongside five teammates she will don the Scottish colours in the Under-17 girls race in London and compete against runners from Wales, Northern Ireland and the nine regions of England.
But competing and competing to a very high standard seem to
come hand in hand for Eilidh. In her previous guise as a competitive swimmer,
Eilidh again, was no stranger to success.
“I managed to win a bronze medal in the 100m fly at Scottish National Age Groups and also swam for Scotland East at the British Inter-Counties,” she said.
And Eilidh will never forget her time in the pool but knows
running is now the sole focus; “I think swimming will always be a big part of
my life because it taught me so much.
“This September I will be going to Edinburgh University and
I’m excited for the new challenges that this will bring. I will be joining the Uni
Running Team (Hare and Hounds) and hopefully I will keep progressing in my
running.”
With her education and running future clearly mapped out, Eilidh can hopefully now focus on her training. Come the 28th of April, she will find herself in the deep end as she races some of the best young runners this country has to offer but with her enthusiasm, dedication and no lack of talent, it will surely all go swimmingly.
The latest trophy up for grabs to Teviotdale Harriers is for those who compete in the ever popular Borders Cross Country Series throughout the winter months.