Greenwood steps up to beat O’Hare record

Athletics: Ben smashes 1,500m mark

Perth athlete Ben Greenwood is thrilled to have smashed an eight-year-old record in the Scottish Age Group Championships.

The Commonwealth Youth Games 800 metres medallist stepped up to 1,500 metres at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow at the weekend.

He certainly made his mark, with a 3.53.26 run eclipsing GB senior international and European medallist Chris O’Hare’s 3.55.87 time set back in 2008 for the under-20 event.

Greenwood said: “We looked at the championship best on Thursday night whencheckingtheentrylistandthought about trying to have a go at it.

“I had done some 300 reps on Tuesday that were quick but also comfortable so my coach, Kat Tavendale, said‘whynotaimforsub-four minutes and see how close you can go’.

“It was hard because I do tend to lose concentration a bit in the 1,500m and particularly indoors where you have seven-and-a-half laps.

“But the announcer (Jim Goldie) was really on the case in terms of the time and that got the crowd involved.

“I could hear him saying what the lap times were and that I was still in touch and it definitely helped spur me on.

“I’m pleased with the time and of course someone like Chris O’Hare has made a great leap from junior athlete to successful senior so you are always pleased to take one of his records.”

Meanwhile, Scot Callum Hawkins (Kilbarchan) joins double Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah in a 10-strong British team for the Cardiff University World Half Marathon Championships on Saturday March 26 in south Wales.