Role model runner
A KILGRASTON sixth former who took up competitive running less than a year ago is holding her own against the best in her age group in Scotland and the UK.
Annabel Simpson of Lower Sixth made a major breakthrough at the British and Irish Junior Hill Running Championships where she finished 6th. The 16-year-old crossed the finish line ahead of every runner in the Scottish national team and is now hoping for a place in the 2014 squad.
Annabel’s success is all the more extraordinary as she only began training for competition this year. Her running has gone from strength to strength with wins last month in the U17 race at the Scottish East District Cross Country League in Alloa and the Hartley Cup Relays at Forfar at both junior and senior level.
Annabel, who runs for Fife Athletic Club, picked up two gold medals this summer in the 3,000m in races in Glasgow and Derbyshire, beating teams from Scotland, England and Wales.
Other notable achievements include taking bronze at the Scottish Schools Secondary Championships at Grangemouth and silver in the 1500m at the Scottish East District Championships in Edinburgh.
Kilgraston’s Director of Sport, Pauline Stott, said: “The PE department at Kilgraston are so proud of what Annabel has achieved in such a short time.
“Her dedication and training ethic are fantastic and Annabel is a role model to the young girls who run with her at the weekly club. It is evidence that it is never too late to get fit and try your best and we wish Annabel all the best for the rest of her winter training.”
Annabel added: “I started running to keep fit. I enjoyed going to cross country club at Craigclowan, my previous school. At Kilgraston I carried on with running club and did the odd cross country race.
“Mrs Stott entered me into my first race for the school where I came 48th. I was very nervous but Mrs Stott was really supportive. She ran with me in training, chatted to me and helped me to improve my stamina.
“I trained quite a bit in the gym on the treadmill, too. Last year I discovered I could run 5km in 20 minutes. I realised through talking to others that this was a good time and was encouraged to join Kinross Road Runners.
“The first time I went along in January this year I was really nervous. I was thrown in at the deep end doing hill repetitions but really enjoyed it.
“I find running relaxing. I’m happier and healthier and I feel the friends I’ve made through running will be friends for life. My marks at school have also gone up as my fitness has improved.”
Kilgraston’s Principal Frank Thompson, said: “Annabel is hugely talented and her success in running in the space of a few months is extraordinary. She is an academic scholar here at Kilgraston and achieved straight As and 1s in her Standard Grades and Intermediate 2s in the summer. It is to her credit that Annabel has achieved such outstanding results alongside her phenomenal achievements in running. I wouldn’t be surprised to receive her application for a sports scholarship, too.
“I was also delighted to discover that Annabel ran her personal best in a 3,000m race on the track at my previous school, Mount St Mary’s in Spinkhill, Derbyshire.”
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