STUDENT AIMS FOR ATHLETICS GOAL
Hamilton’s Alexander Thomson is on track for a career in athletics after impressing at a Scottish Student Sport event at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena.
Scores of student athletes competed in the first Scottish Student Athletics opening match in a range of track and field events, including sprint and middle distance running, pole vault, long jump, shot put, high jump and triple jump.
Alexander, 18, who studies NQ Level 4 Access to Sport and Fitness at New College Lanarkshire, was one of only two college students at the Scottish Athletics-licenced event, with the majority drawn from Scottish universities.
He competed in both the men’s 200m and 400m distances, winning his first heat in the 200m and finishing in fifth place in the 200m final.
As a sprinter, Alexander is making a name for himself in both mainstream and disability athletics.
The ex-hamilton Grammar pupil combines his studies at the college’s Motherwell campus with participating in national and international athletics events.
He said: “I used to play rugby when I was younger, and I decided to take up running when I was 13 or 14. It was hard at the start, but it’s got easier as I have kept at it.
“My dad, who is also called Alexander, encouraged me. I think he saw something in me – he used to run long distances, but I’m a sprinter.
“My long-term goal is to become a professional runner and, if not that, then I want to be a personal trainer or an athletics coach.”
Alexander was the only athlete at the Emirates student event to have a disability classification.
He is categorised T38, which is a classification for athletes with cerebral palsy.
In March, he won a silver medal in 400m at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, where he also finished in fifth place in the 800m final, and fourth in the 4x100m relay.
He represented Great Britain at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships in Switzerland in August, finishing in fourth place in both 100m and 200m.
Alexander is currently training for two British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) athletics event, the indoor championships in Sheffield in February, and the outdoor championships in Bedford in May.
Furthermore, a good performance from Alexander at the European Championships in Poland in June could lead to selection for the GB Paralympic Games.
Alexander trains several times a week with Whitemoss Amateur Athletics Club, which is based at the John Wright Sports Centre in East Kilbride.
He was supported in competing by the college’s Learner Engagement team and Students’ Association, who covered the cost of his entry fees.
Alexander was also cheered on at the day-long event by student president Calum Smith.
His lecturer, Chris Wilson, said: “Alexander is a conscientious, diligent student who is a pleasure to have in the class.
“We try to prepare students like Alexander as best we can so they can balance their academic and sporting interests, often by giving them course work in advance to allow them to attend international competitions and meetings.
“We also try to build in study skills they will need while they are away, and they can always communicate with us by email.
“We have a lot of students who are involved at a high level in their chosen sport, and as a college we are keen to support them wherever we can.”