‘Can’t wait to prove myself at champs’
Sol running for Scotland
Crieff runner Sol Sweeney is determined to justify his Scotland selection when he travels to Liverpool this weekend.
The Perth Strathtay Harrier will pull on the national vest for the British Cross Challenge and Euro Cross Trials at Sefton Park.
Sweeney, a former Crieff High pupil, is feeling stronger with every passing week and is looking to make his mark in the mud of Merseyside.
“I am still gaining a lot of fitness week on week just now and I am hoping to be as competitive as possible,” Sweeney told the Herald.
“Of course everyone has the aim of making that Euro XC team, although there are only six places on the team so it won’t be easy.
“In any case it will be another opportunity to get a hard effort in and it will benefit me heading towards the indoor season.
“It is always an honour to represent Scotland and I am looking forward to justifying my selection.”
Sweeney heads south following a strong performance at the Lindsays Short Course XC Champs, held at Lanark, earlier this month.
The 22-year-old finished fourth in a time of 11:58, narrowly behind Lachlan Oates, Jamie Crowe and winner Andy Butchart.
“I was pleased with how the short course championships went as it was the first time I had raced in a while,” Sweeney said. “It was good to see where my fitness is at. Training this year has been quite variable and I actually took a few months off over the summer, so to come back in this winter and perform well is encouraging.
“I always enjoy racing at the short course and the venue at Lanark is wellsuited to my strengths. On the day Andrew Butchart took the race out hard and it was
just about trying to maintain contact with the front group then seeing what I had left on the second lap. It’s good to get that hard racing effort in as the intensity is always high straight from the off in Liverpool.”
Cross country was where it all started for Sweeney and, therefore, this is an event that will always be held close to his heart.
He explained: “My first experiences within the sport came from racing cross country and it’s an event that I have always enjoyed. It is great that so many people from all abilities can be involved in the same race and you always get a great atmosphere in Scotland at cross country events.
“The other week in Lanark you had
hundreds of people racing from club runners all the way up to Olympians and I don’t think there are many other sports that can create that situation.”
An important few months sit ahead for Sweeney who, coupled with indoor racing, has his sights set on the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
He said: “Heading in to 2022 my main aim is to qualify for the Scotland team for the Commonwealth Games in the 5000m.
“I am currently about 12 seconds away from the qualifying time and I believe I can achieve that in the early parts of the season next year. First I will take on some indoor 3000m races to help prepare for the summer season.”