Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Run for Joe
team! I made friends with everyone in the Lanarkshire team and met new people, and we’re already thinking about next year.
“The athletics on Sunday was an amazing day . The competition was tough and there were some good runners with impressive speeds. But I came through somehow. I felt I was going to be pulled back and didn’t know how to react when I won!”
He added of Saturday evening’s rain- lashed 5km run: “The weather was so bad. I found it a bit slippy but just tried to treat it like any other run. I didn’t realise how fast I went at the time.”
Proud mum Deborah said: “For him to move up from the children’s section to adults and come away with two silver and two bronze medals is a fantastic achievement. We weren’t expecting it and he couldn’t have done any better.
“It was a big step and we’d just said to go out, enjoy it and do his best – and to get all those medals is a personal best. We’re really proud.
“Because of the weather, all the 5k runners set off together rather than in age groups so we didn’t know who was in which age range when they crossed the finish line, and he was jumping up and down when we found out he’d got a medal.”
She added of the prized 2017 Games medals – designed with seven sides to represent the number of localities in North Lanarkshire: “Everybody was in awe of them and desperate to get their hands on them!
“The facilities and volunteers were excellent and the feedback has been fantastic.”
Lanarkshire team manager Karen Casey said: “The Games were absolutely amazing and we didn’t want it to end – the whole thing was wonderful.
“It was so well run and we’ve had messages from the other team managers saying that it was well organised, people were so helpful and it’s the best Games they’ve been to.
“We were blown away at the opening ceremony when we got such a loud cheer; everybody felt really proud and we had amazing comments on our kilts.
“People want to go to next year’s Games in Birmingham – and to take Haggi, the mascot, with us! The Lanarkshire transplant team will go on, it’s not just a one-off.”
She paid tribute to transplant donor families, adding: “Without them, we wouldn’t be here to have that chance to compete – they’re amazing people.
“The Games aim to raise awareness of organ donation, and I think it’s helped to do that.”
The competition was tough and there were some good runners with impressive speeds