Stewartfield sprinter Greg Kelly was thrilled to finish fourth in the 154th New Year Sprint at Musselburgh Racecourse – after thinking he wouldn’t even get out of the heats.
The 23-year-old East Kilbride Athletic Club member is a two-time champion in the handicap race, run annually on New Year’s Day, but this year he was the back-marker in the event and never expected to qualify for the famous event that heralds in the new year
Despite his handicap of just 0.5, Kelly managed to win his heat and then narrowly missed out on a third place finish with a time of 12.28. Scott Tindle of TLJT took the title and £3,500 prize in a time of 12.03 (handicap 6.5), while Gkontouin Imante (3.0) of Shettleston Harriers was second and Euan Urquhart (9.0) finished third in 12.126.
There was another East Kilbride runner in action with Whitemoss AAC’s Ian McEwan (8.5) finishing fifth in 12.55
Greg, who won in 2019 (11.50) and 2017 (11.54), told Lanarkshire Live Sport : “The handicap was 0.5 so it’s the furthest back I’ve ever been in the race, by a decent distance.
“But it was a bit of an honour being the back-marker and still making it to the final, never mind finishing fourth.
“I was absolutely delighted to get fourth
.
“The heats were on December 30 and I brought an extra change of clothes and lunch because I was prepared to do the 200m in the afternoon, as I didn’t expect to get out of the heats, being so far back.
“I’d also been doing 400m training so I didn’t feel like I was prepped for the race, but maybe with the pressure being off I just let the running happen.
“Once I won my heat, I knew the grass on January 1 would suit me, having had experience of the race before and being quite a strong runner.
“I love the event. Sacrificing your New Year’s Eve is always worth it, for me.”
Kelly, who now lives in Manchester but still represents EKAC, believes it has put a spring in his step heading into 2023.
He added: “I didn’t have a great season in 2022 so I’m just going to try and enjoy my running again this year.
“I’m pleased to see I can still run well. My time in the heats was back to what I’m capable of doing, 10.6/10.7 for 100m.
“That’s galvanised me and given me a bit of confidence going into this summer.
“I plan to compete quite a bit but I’m not myself any real targets.
“I’m going to dabble in some 400m events to see what I can do with that.”
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