DREW’S QUICK OFF THE MARK
Cambuslang pupil takes first in schools 6K road race
A Cambuslang high school pupil staved off tough competition from more than 1,000 fellow athletes to win the annual Lanarkshire Schools 6K Road Race.
Cathkin High’s Drew Pollock beat more than 1,600 pupils and staff across the finish line at Strathclyde Park on September 17.
Thirty-six North and South Lanarkshire secondary schools took part to compete and also raise vital funds for St Andrew’s Hospice.
And while some opted to walk or jog as part of a fun run at the back of the pack, 16-year-old Drew led the entire race from the front to claim his targeted time of 19 minutes 51 seconds.
Drew, who is also an experienced runner with the Cambuslang Harriers, pipped second placed Luke McCafferty of St Andrew’s High, Coatbridge, by 22 seconds and rates the victory among one of his top honours so far.
He said: “It went really well. I was going for a time and I achieved that. There was no tactic to it, I just went out there and ran as hard as I could.
“There was so much great support as well from those watching on at the home straight.
“I think my experience with the Harriers helped. It helped with preparing for the race and dealing with the pressure.
“I won by about 20 seconds but there was two or three of us in a group going round in the first half but I lost them a bit over the hilly section.”
Drew is preparing for the upcoming season which is just starting back but won the schools race off the back of a successful track season with the Harriers.
The teenager and fellow Cathkin High pupil, Christopher McLew, represented the Scottish Schools at an international schools track race in Dublin.
His team of three then won the under 17 boys silver medal in the Scottish Trail 5K Race Championships and finished sixth in the Under 17 Scottish 1,500 metres Championships.
“It’s been a really good season for me,” Drew said. “We’re just starting back now so I’ll hope to get a few more wins like this one and maybe make the World Championships someday.”
John Brady, head of fundraising at St Andrew’s Hospice, added: “Thank you to each and every one of the pupils, teachers and staff for an amazing show of support.
“Our fundraising team has to raise £88,000 every week to deliver care services to patients and their families from North and South Lanarkshire and we couldn’t continue to do this without the terrific support of our school communities who continue to attend our events and give generously to St Andrew’s Hospice.”