Crieff runner keen to mix it with the continent’s best
Middle- distance star Sol Sweeney will add another feather to his cap this week.
The Crieff runner has been selected to race for Great Britain at the European Cross Country Championships in Lisbon, Portugal, which takes place on Sunday.
Sol, who turned 21 on Wednesday, earned his place following an impressive performance at the British Cross Challenge and Euro Cross trials in Liverpool in November.
Team GB U23 team member Sol said: “The plan going into Liverpool was to not get sucked into a fast pace at the start and just sit back initially.
“Then it was about trying to push on in the second half of the race.
“I feel that worked quite well and I started picking people off.
“It was good to get an automatic place and know that I was definitely in the team. I think the fifth and sixth athletes across the line were not selected so it was good to have my place in the team confirmed.
“It should be great experience racing at such a big event, competing against the top runners in Europe.
“I’m very proud to be able to pull on the GB vest again. It’s always an honour to be able to represent your country.”
Glasgow University student Sol, who runs for Perth Strathtay Harriers, is pleased with his crosscountry season.
The former Crieff High School pupil explained: “I raced in Cumbernauld at the Scottish crosscountry relays and it wasn’t a great performance.
“But at that stage I was still building into winter training and it was my first race in a while.
“A few weeks later I raced in Kirkcaldy at the national short course championships, finishing second behind [Team GB Olympian] Andy Butchart.
“It went well for me and it showed that I was in a good place.
“It was a bit unknown going into Liverpool as it was a 10k distance, which is a lot further than I’m used to.
“I was happy with the result there and it stands me in good stead heading into the Euros.”