Young athletes are inspired with Megan Keith competing at Olympics
YOUNG Athletes at Inverness Harriers say they have been inspired by Megan Keith qualifying for the Olympic Games and are looking forward to watching her compete on Friday night.
Keith (22) is set to compete against the best athletes in the world when she runs in the 10,000 metres final at the Stade de France.
The former Millburn Academy pupil is the first athlete from the Inverness Harriers to compete at the Olympics.
The club and the city have celebrated her success with banners hung up all around the Queen’s Park Stadium wishing her good luck. Posters have also been displayed on shop windows in the city centre wishing Keith all the best for the race.
Club members are eagerly anticipating her competing in Paris on Friday night, with a special party planned at Fairways in Inverness to watch her race.
Inverness Harriers athletes who were training at Queen’s Park Stadium on Tuesday night are excited to see her in action and spoke of their pride of seeing someone from the club competing on the biggest stage of them all.
Discus thrower Harry Macleod (14) said to see someone from the club competing at the Olympic Games is definitely an inspiration for everyone.
He said: “It is quite exceptional to see an athlete from Inverness Harriers qualify for the Olympics. It has never happened before so it is really good. It gives us a lot of inspiration. We have seen her at the ground training for the Olympics in the last few weeks. I think it will definitely inspire others.”
Daniel Mcneill (13) is a long distance runner and said what Keith has achieved has definitely inspired him in his athletics career.
He said: “It is pretty cool that somebody who was in this age group a couple of years ago is now going to be running in the Olympics.
“It is really impressive that somebody from this club will be doing that. I have read stuff about her and it inspires me to keep running.”
Ewan Thompson (14) who competes in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres, says Keith has shown what athletes are capable of achieving in Inverness.
He said: “It means a lot as it shows that even small clubs based in the north of Scotland can compete. Maybe that will mean we will be good enough to compete as well. It is inspirational that having people from the club who train here are now competing in Paris. Seeing her on the track and seeing her in training is really inspirational.”
Cross Country runner Rosie Conroy (14) says it is a huge inspiration to see Keith competing at the Olympics and thinks she will do incredible on Friday night.
She said: “It is super inspiring and it makes you look up to her.
“It makes you think a lot and also makes you really motivated.
“I think that she has inspired all of us. I think that she is going to do amazing.”
Shot put and javelin thrower Olivia Cooper (14) also agreed it was inspirational seeing her train on the track in Inverness before the Olympics.
She said: “It is really inspirational as we saw her when she was younger training on the track. She is from a small club up north so it is really cool. We have seen her train a lot of times on the track in her preparations.”
Sprinter Isla McEwan (13) added: “I think she is inspirational. I wish her good luck.”
