A Team GB Olympian has hailed the installation of a world-class running track in Renfrewshire.
Olympic middle distance runner Jemma Reekie – who counts Kilbarchan Amateur Athletics Club (AAC) as her home club in Scotland – has praised the investment in the local area.
And runners in Renfrewshire are donning their spikes as works to install a new running track at the ON-X Sports Centre in Linwood cross the finish line.
The £450,000 spent by Renfrewshire Council and Kilbarchan AAC will allow the club to host league meetings and championship events while any records set on the track can be ratified by Scottish Athletics.
The new surface meets World Athletics accreditation standard and will benefit runners across the area.
Jemma told the Paisley Daily Express: “I started training at the track at ON-X as an 11-year-old and, with the assistance of the club and my coaches, I have become one of the leading middle distance runners in the world, including competing for Team GB at the last three Olympic Games.
“It is great to see the investment by Renfrewshire Council and Kilbarchan AAC in the facility and I look forward to training at Linwood when I return to Scotland.”
Kilbarchan AAC are contributing £100,000 towards the project to support the hundreds of athletes who train and compete across various age groups in local and national competitions.
John Rodger of Kilbarchan AAC said: “We have grown to be one of the leading athletic clubs in Scotland with around 500 members and have recently won three Scottish age group titles – breaking two long-standing Scottish 800m records in the process – the senior men’s Scottish 10-mile road race championship and, of course, a silver medal in the World Indoor Athletics championship for Jemma in Glasgow.
“The track at ON-X is integral to the continued success of the club and we are delighted to have secured the funding to bring the track up to World Athletics standard and we would like to express our thanks to Renfrewshire Council and OneRen who we have worked with to make this happen.”
The new track is part of a significant investment by Renfrewshire Council in its sports facilities with new tennis courts installed in three parks.
Improvements to Ferguslie Sports Centre are almost complete, as are new pitches and a changing pavilion at St James’ playing fields. A Federation for International Hockey (FIH) standard pitch at the ON-X is soon to be installed.
Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes is Renfrewshire Council’s culture spokesperson and chair of OneRen.
She said: “I’m delighted to see the upgrade of the running track completed at the ON-X which will provide Renfrewshire athletes with the best possible surface as we strive to create a sporting environment in which they can thrive.
“From Olympic-level athletes to club runners and those purely who run to keep fit, the benefits will be felt across the athletics community in Renfrewshire.
“But Kilbarchan AAC in particular will now have a track suitable for their talented group of athletes to use as they compete at a national level.
“It is yet another example of the council’s investment in its sports facilities and I’m delighted that we are able to support current and future generations of athletes in Renfrewshire with the facilities they need to excel.”
Colin Hutchison, chief executive of Scottish Athletics, has praised the investment in Renfrewshire’s sports facilities.
He said: “Scottish Athletics are extremely grateful for the significant investment made by Renfrewshire Council and Kilbarchan AAC to install a new state-of-the-art track at ON-X, Linwood.
“We recognise and appreciate the challenging financial climate that councils are operating within and are delighted that Renfrewshire Council value so highly the importance of investment in their sports facility infrastructure.
“Kilbarchan AAC have led the way in athletics facility development in Scotland over the last five years and the new track surface will complement the indoor training centre opened in 2020.”
For more information on sport facilities in Renfrewshire, visit www.oneren.org
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