Super Sol’s delight
Personal best in first race back since summer
It may have been Strathearn athletics ace Sol Sweeney’s first race since the summer.
But the 19 year-old knew that he was in good stead to take gold at Saturday’s Glasgow Athletics Association (GAA) Miler Meet.
The Crieff athlete powered across the finish line of the Senior Mens 3000m in a personal best of 8.19.03, seeing off the challenge of visiting Irish athlete, Daniel Mooney who finished three seconds behind the local hotshot.
However, Sol was confident that his extensive training would pay off and is delighted with the result.
He said: “It’s a really good start to
2018 and hopefully I can keep it up. Training has been going really well, especially seeing as this was my first race since last summer.
“Even although I hadn’t raced since then, I had an idea that I would finish in around the time I did, so I’m pleased.
“I have been training throughout the winter on the track, and it has been varied with indoor and outdoor.
“This has been really good and made a big difference, as it has helped with competing with the dry air, so it has definitely given me an advantage.”
The GAA Miler Meet may have been the ideal way to kick off 2018 for Sol, but the Glasgow University student hasn’t set any plans in stone for this year.
He added: “I’m competing in the Edinburgh Cross Country this weekend and a couple more later on.
“I’ll tackle a few 1500m races in the summer, but I haven’t made any plans yet.”
Meanwhile, fellow Kinross-shire track star Laura Muir – who hails from Milnathort – claimed the Women’s 3000m gold with a time of 8.37.21, a whopping 18 seconds ahead of silver medal winner Melissa Courtney.
Kinross’s Eilidh Doyle raced a rare 200m and was pleased with a time of 24.35.