To say Inverness Harriers are proud of their first-ever Olympian, Megan Keith, might be something of an under-statement.
The club’s home at Queens Park is already bedecked with ‘Good Luck Megan‘ banners draped around the outside of the track.
Come the day of the Women’s 10,000m Olympic final on Friday 9 August, a ‘watch party’ is planned by the Harriers for 100 guests while Megan will be cheered on in person by an Inverness contingent of family and friends in the Stade de France.
Torvean parkrun even had a special visitor for their 100th edition recently to suggest the whole running community locally is relishing the moment.
But it is a much smaller group of Highland helpers who have been putting in the hard yards on the local track to assist Megan.
Scotland International Stephen Mackay; Lucas Cairns, son of Megan’s coach Ross; and three athletes from East Sutherland, Shaun Cumming, Blair Mackay and Gordon Lennox, are among the unsung heroes of this Olympic debut.
To those we can add: Harriers duo Luke Davidson and Donnie MacDonald; North-based Shettleston Harriers athlete Lachlan Oates; James Wilson of Moray Road Runners; and marathon runner Nikki Johnstone (on holiday from Germany). Talk about #SALtogether ethos.
‘I’ve been in the Highlands all summer,’ said Megan.
‘I think most endurance athletes headed for the Olympics are in the Alps or something like that but we’ve put together the programme we felt suited me best. We are making it work.
‘A number of guys (from various clubs) have been helping me in track sessions and that has been imperative in what we trying to do.
‘They have dragged me around that track quite a lot to be honest. They might be slower for 10k on paper but that’s not how it has felt! It has been very helpful as we’ve tried to get me in the shape to contend with the best women in the world.
‘People at Inverness Harriers are excited and I am hearing about a planned gathering for 100 folk to watch the race together. It’s great that the Olympics generate that excitement.’
Youngsters at the club have thus had a close-up of the training by the modest superstar which Megan has become. A bronze medal at the European Champs in Rome merely underlined that status.
The challenge in Paris will be much tougher than European-level, however.
‘It is going to be very tough, probably hot…
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