C
OACH Andy Young says
Jemma Reekie’s recent
golden performances at
the European Under-
Championships in Gävle, Sweden,
have helped to keep the “wheel of
continued success” turning within
his group.
After four races in four days,
Reekie became the first British
athlete to ever win two individual
gold medals at the continental
under-23 event.
As a result, for a week all the
female European 1500m titles
were held by Young-coached
runners, with Reekie also having
won at the 2017 European Under-
Championships and her British
record-holding training partner
Laura Muir having both the senior
indoor and outdoor titles to her
name.
“It was just nice for a moment
in time to have all the titles,” says
Young, who had another athlete
in European competition over the
past weekend, with triathlete Erin
Wallace racing at the under-
championships in Borås where she
finished seventh in the 1500m.
“I think she has been buzzing,”he adds, on Reekie’s recent
performances. “She’s obviously
very proud to win two races. It’s just
more positive vibes.
“Everyone has pretty much been
doing well and breaking records
and PBs and things so yeah, it’s
just on that wheel of continued
success.”Given all that is going on with
members of his successful
Glasgow-based 16-strong group,
can it be hard to keep track?
“Sometimes I tell them to
remind me to watch so and so’s
race while we’re in one location
because I can’t be in another
location,” he laughs.“I’m racking up the air miles.
“I made it from Monaco (where
Muir raced in the Diamond League).
I jumped on a flight to Gävle the
next day, so I was there for the
Saturday and Sunday finals.”
On the impact such success
has on the group, he adds: “The
atmosphere is always good but
it does just create that recipe or
expectation for success where
success is the norm rather than
the unusual. It becomes apparent- work hard, success may be
achievable.
“There has almost always been
a run of success all the way
through from most of them. It’s
almost like that’s the expectation –
we work very hard and then deliver.”
Young team comes of age
WHEEL OF SUCCESS KEEPS TURNING FOR ANDY YOUNG’S SQUAD WITH BIG EUROPEAN MEDALS TALLY
DIGEST THE LATEST FROM THE WORLD OF ATHLETICS
SAUCONY has broadened its support of endurance running in
the UK with a three-year deal to become headline sponsor of the
British Milers’ Club.
The shoe brand has already sponsored the English Cross
Country Association’s annual relays and ‘National’ events in
recent years and the BMC deal sees it replace the long-time
sponsor/supporter Nike.
The news broke at the BMC Grand Prix in Eltham last Saturday
night and BMC chairman Tim Brennan said: “We are delighted
with our new partnership with Saucony and to be working with
people who understand our sport and share our aims.
“We look forward to working together to improve the world
standings of UK middle distance running.
“Together we can provide a pathway for progression from
club to international level.”Saucony to sponsor BMC
GETTY IMAGES FOR EUROPEAN ATHLETICSJemma Reekie: European
under-23 800m and
1500m champion’
Everyone has pretty
much been doing
well and breaking
records and PBs
and things so yeah,
it’s just on that
wheel of continued
success
Coach ANDY YOUNG
New deal (l-r): BMC chair Tim Brennan,
Gareth Lloyd of Saucony and Neville Taylor of the BMC
DAVID LOWES