Greg takes gold in dash for cash
Speedy end to 2014 sprint youngster
Stewar t f i el d athlete G r e g Ke l l y f i n i s h e d 2014 with a bang when he took part in the traditional New Year meeting at Musselburgh.
On Hogmanay, the East Kilbride Athletic Club star competed in the youths’ 60m and 90m handicap sprints on the soft turf of the horse race track.
As t he f astest r unner i n both events, Greg had t he honour of being t he back marker, meaning he had to give starts to every runner in the field.
The 9 0 m was f i r s t a nd Greg, competing off ei ght metres, won his heat in 9.81 seconds, the second fastest of the six heats, before going on to dead-heat for second in the final in a time of 9.85 seconds.
The 15-year-old earned £50 in prize money for his efforts and, keen t o ret urn home with a win under his belt, Greg then went to post in the 60m handicap, where he was off a mark of five metres.
Another speedy heat win was followed by an emphatic victor y i n t he f i nal i n 6.88 seconds, the first ever subseven seconds winning time in the dash.
A medal and cheque for £75 was just rewards for some excellent sprinting.
Greg told t he News his victory took him by surprise.
“Being the back marker is always really tough so I didn’t expect to win the race at all,” he admitted.
“I s hocke d mysel f wi t h that performance because it ’s really hard to catch the other runners when they get a head start – especially over a short distance – but I’m really pleased to win it.
“I’ve been working really hard on my starts in training with my coach Gordon Bury and it has definitely helped me.”
Greg now has his sights s e t o n c o mpe t i n g a t t h e Scottish Schools Indoor Championships and S c ot t i s h under- 17 I ndoor Championships at t he Emirates Stadium next month.
The Duncanrig Secondary School pupil, who has been with East Kilbride Athletic Club for just over a year after moving from Whitemoss AC, claimed silver in the 60m at the Scottish Championships last year at under-16 level and added: “I was happy with that last year, so hopefully I can do something similar or go one better this year.”
For now, t he y oungster is l ooking f orward to spending his £125 haul from Musselburgh.
He added: “The money i s a re a l bonus a nd I wi l l definitely put it towards some new running gear, probably a new pair of spikes before the indoors.”
For more details on EK Athletic Club visit www.ekac. org.uk/