The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
London 2012’s dream ticket?
Olympics correspondent Norman Watson asks local athletes what they are looking forward to at this summer’s games.
What would athletes choose if offered a dream ticket to any sport, event or personality at London 2012? Olympics correspondent Norman Watson captured some thoughts as 150 runners gathered in Perth last week for the 30th anniversary staging of the Kinnoull Hill Race. WE KNOW the hottest ticket around – the men’s 100m Olympic final.
It’s been over-subscribed a trillion times… at least.
But, gun to tape it’s over in… about that time.
So what’s the alternative? What are the athletes’ picks for a memorable day out at London 2012?
Jacqui Higginbottom, one of Scotland’s top female hill runners, opted for track and field and the men’s 800m and 1,500m races – though partly out of frustration.
“Both are brilliant races, but I get annoyed when I see the British athletes running the ‘Kenyan’ way.
“In the last Europeans and again in last year’s world championships, they were lulled into jogging along with the Africans and were predictably left for dead.
“They should just run their own races.”
Elise Methven of Anster Haddies opted for the women’s 100m – “It’s the distance I sprint at the end of every long race,” she laughed.
“It’s also inspirational as it’s so far removed from what I do. It would be wonderful to see these world-class girls in the Olympic final.
“It’s always a high-quality race, but suffers because of the publicity surrounding the men’s 100m.”
Welsh steeplechase internationalist Donald Naylor, who won the Perth race, was a tad huffy about London 2012.
“They didn’t invite me, so I’m not interested,” he joked. “Seriously, the one for me is the men’s 5000m.
“It’s a fantastic mix of speed and endurance, and every so often a 1,500m runner steps up with the capability to destroy the field on the last lap.
“And that’s the key to the 5,000m – the last lap is frequently the fastest of any race above 400m.”
Easiest to please was Ron Milne of Forfar Roadrunners.
“Well I’ve always had a hankering to do the steeplechase, but I’d be out watching the men’s marathon,” he said.
“I’ve been brought up on road and distance running so it’s the obvious choice, and having done the London Marathon about half a dozen times, I sort of have a close affiliation with the event.”
David Knight of Perth Road Runners and Carnegie Harriers’ captain Melanie Sinclair both opted for the evening session on Sunday August 5.
Probably speaking for the majority, David said: “It’s got to be Usain Bolt.
“I get annoyed when I see the British athletes
running the ‘Kenyan’ way.”
Jacqui Higginbottom
He’s the hottest ticket.”
Melanie added, “Usain Bolt – most definitely! I would happily pay to see that man run.
“He’s a crowd pleaser, just such a good entertainer. He seems to love everything he does in the sport, and that’s the way it should be.”
Dunfermline-based Carnegie will stage its Auld Toon 10km race on the day the Olympic torch passes through the town (June 13), and the Games can’t come soon enough for Melanie.
“I just can’t wait. I’m going to upgrade my television and watch every hour of it,” she said.
The women’s winner at Perth, Sheena Jack of Fife AC, is on her way to London to watch the individual showjumping.
“I used to showjump when I was younger, so we applied for tickets and were lucky enough to get them.
“It’s such an exciting prospect,” she said. “But, if I was offered tickets to anything, it would be the velodrome for me.
“Britain has such a strong team, and any