Dedication pays off as Reekie sets her sights on Muir in World Cup 1500m
At school, Jemma Reekie sped off down one track while her childhood friends ambled along another. Inevitable, she felt. Different horses, different courses. Tough at an age when the survival instinct is to fit in rather than opt out, but the young athlete knew where she was going in a hurry and would not be diverted.
But Reekie, pictured, admits: “I did feel a bit left out. I was the only person in my circle of friends who was sporty and that was quite difficult. I’m not really in touch with them now because athletics has such a good community and I spend so much time around that.
“But I remember when I went to the European junior championships, I did get texts from a few of them saying they were proud I’d followed my dream. At a young age, a lot of them were out drinking or stuff like that and I knew I couldn’t do that so I didn’t spend too much time with them. But they know now that it was worth it.”
More return on that precocious investment will come this evening when the 20-yearold lines up in the 1,500 metres at the inaugural Athletics World Cup in London. Held over two days, the team event involves the eight leading nations in a quickfire format designed to reach younger audiences.
That the diary clash with the football World Cup, and Wimbledon – plus a number of A-list absentees – has neutered its initial appeal will matter little to Reekie on her senior debut. It is an opportunity for the reigning European junior champion to soak up further experience and implement some of the insights gained from her illustrious training partner. Working on a neardaily basis with Laura Muir and their coach Andy Young has acceleratedherprogress.the double world indoor medallist’s UK record of 3:55.22 may be 12 seconds quicker than Reekie’s present best but the gap, the protégée senses, can speedily close.
“I’ll be training and I’ll still try and beat her,” she said. “You know you’re challenging one of the best runners in the world so when I go to the start line I know that if I can challenge Laura, I can challenge anyone.”
In London, she will be one of three Scots hoping for a slice of the £1.4 million prize pot with Beth Dobbin in the 200m, Zoey Clark in the 4x400 relay and Neil Gourley handed a late summons into the men’s 1,500m. If Reekie can slice 2.1 seconds or more off her current apex, she will be assured of joining Muir in the British team at next month’s European Championships in Berlin.
“I ran 4:09 last week off a slow start and that made me realise I can get it,” she said. “But I don’t want to chase it. I’ll stay in the mindset of knowing I’ve been running well and I should just go out and enjoy it.”
Mark Dry is set for his final appearance of the summer before season-ending shoulder surgery when the Commonwealth bronze medallist joins Scots rival Chris Bennett in the hammer at the Leiria Grand Prix in Portugal.