Inverness athlete is hammering records at club
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RACHEL Maclennan isn’t taking long to rewrite the club record books at Inverness Harriers.
Not long after breaking the club’s hammer record at the Scottish Athletics Invitational at Kilmarnock, she then set a new record and personal best in Inverness six days later.
The 19-year-old beat the previous record by 10 centimetres when she threw 46 metres 38 centimetres at the Together Apart Jumps and Throws test event which took place last week.
The former Culloden Academy pupil, who is now studying law at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, says she is pleased she is throwing further than she has ever thrown before, particularly given the disruption caused by the pandemic over the last 14 months.
“I was really shocked when it happened, I completely forgot that I held the record to start with when I broke it,” she said.
“It has been so long since we last competed.
“The last time I competed was back in September 2019. I only threw from mid-July to the start of September and at university we couldn’t get anything sorted for training so I didn’t throw until December. With the lockdown in January, I didn’t come back until March.
“I went to have a bit of fun and see what I could do after not being in it for so long.
“So to come away with a personal best and a club record, I was very impressed with myself in the end.”
She added: “In the back of my head I always hoped that I would. But hope and what is actually possible are two different things sometimes. I went in hoping for a 40 plus as that is a decent benchmark. But to come away with mid-40’s I am happy with it in the end.”
Maclennan’s talent in hammer was first spotted aged 12 and she is coached by Duncan Flockhart.
Her progression in the sport has seen her win three third place medals at the national championships.
She is aiming for another national medal in August and is also preparing for other competitions too.
“I am competing again in two weeks, I want to keep progressing and look to compete in the nationals,” she said.
“I am hoping I can get at least second and winning would be a bonus for me.”
She added: “In the long term I would love another Scotland vest.
“But I don’t have major goals, just small ones.”
