Like father, like son
A YOUNG athlete from Fort William is following in dad’s footsteps after winning gold in the under 18 race at Snowdon.
Member of Lochaber athletic club, Steven Burns, successfully gained first place in the junior section at the internationally acclaimed Wales hill race.
The former Lochaber high school pupil also won gold at the north district track and field championships in Inverness in May of this year and silver in the Inverness half marathon in March.
The 17-year- old said: ‘I got into running when I was about nine years old, but I fell away from it when I was about 12 or 13.
‘I wanted to get back to running and joined the club last July.’
Steven was inspired by dad, also Stephen, who has been a member of the same club for 25 years, to take up the sport as a youngster.
The pair work together at Stephen Burns roofing in Fort William. Young roofer, Steven, said: ‘I’m progressing well at track. My dad is my coach. We get on fine even though we work and train together.’
Steven is getting set for this year’s Scottish Championship road races to be held in Grangemouth.
He told the Oban Times he aims to shape a career out of running: ‘The races I am competing in are the 5,000 metre and 800 metre. I’d like to progress to professional track racing and hope to work up to a Great Britain vest.
‘After taking some years out of track and cross country, it is nice to see that all of my hard work is paying off. Track needs to be consistent and I have to stay motivated.’
Steven likes to set out targets for himself and for the past 12 months he has managed to achieve all of his personal goals.
Dad Stephen, who was also a former junior track champion for Scotland, said: ‘ He could definitely run for Scotland, but it is a gradual progression. Despite Fort William being known for hill racing, that is not what Steven will concentrate on. There are more opportunities in track and field.’