Grant’s Scot the lot
National call-up for Cambuslang runner
In what would have seemed a poor season for Cambuslang Harrier Grant Sheldon, his fortunes have turned around with a call-up to the Scotland athletics squad.
Grant felt he needed to turn his attentions elsewhere after injury ended his triathlon season earlier this year.
The 23-year-old broke his wrist and elbow competing in Montreal, Canada, in August, soon after coming off his bike and injuring his shoulder prior to the event.
But the young athlete was not to be deterred and vowed to keep his fitness up by focusing on running with Cambuslang Harriers.
Until earlier this year, Grant had never run on the track at senior level. However, the Scotland team member at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 is delighted to be back in the national squad.
He recently won the Grangemouth Scottish Athletic 5,000 metres after proving too strong for fellow Scotland teammate, Shettleston’s Lachlan Oates,in the closing stages.
And his winning performance at the Scottish 10k Championship at Stirling in September has earned him selection to an eight-strong side who look set to represent the Scots at the Leeds Abbey Dash 10k on Sunday.
“It’s awesome,” Grant told the Reformer. “There’s not much better than representing your country – other than maybe doing it at the Commonwealth Games.
“It’s great to end the season on a high when it could have been a real low.
“I’ve had a good couple of races on the track.
“I’ve never really looked into how they decide who to pick but to get that call was awesome and I’m really happy.”
Recalling his decision to turn to running, he said: “I came off my bike and hurt my shoulder.
“The next race was Montreal and then I broke my wrist and elbow so I felt I needed to focus on my running because you can run with a broken arm, you can’t bike or swim.”
Grant ranks representing his country at triathlon at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 as one of his biggest honours.
And he is reasonably confident he has shown good enough form this season to be heading for Australia’s Gold Coast for next year’s games, despite a complicated selection criteria.
The young runner, a member of Cambuslang Harriers for seven years, is now based in Stirling.
But according to Grant, the Harriers will always be an important influence who drive his passion for athletics.
He said: “I’ve not trained too much with the Harriers recently since I moved up to Stirling.
“But whenever I race I always put on their vest and run for them.
“My grandpa and uncle used to run for them so that’s how I think I got started.
“After my injury I ran in the Scottish Athletics 5,000 meters and really enjoyed getting out there and really enjoyed the Scottish 10K Championships.
“Running is the part of the triathlon I love out of probably all three sports – so I don’t take much persuasion to get out there.”