Perthshire runner Sol Sweeney is warming up nicely ahead of his bid to earn Commonwealth Games selection this summer.
The Perth Strathtay Harrier has his sights set on a 5000m spot with Team Scotland at Birmingham 2022.
Training has been going well and, at the weekend, he impressed at the Tom Scott Memorial Road Races event.
Sweeney, competing in the Round the Loch 6k at Strathclyde Park, wasted little time in setting a new course record.
The clock stopped at 18:14 when the former Crieff High student crossed the finish line - 23 seconds better off than the previous best.
He finished ahead of John Lenehan of Edinburgh AC and East Sutherland’s Finlay Murray.
“I am currently in a heavy block of training right now as I build towards the outdoor track season so it was a normal week for me without any major taper for this race,” explained Sweeney.
“There was quite a gap between my last indoor race and the first outdoor race so I wanted to keep the familiarity of racing there and get a hard effort in.
“So, I was happy with how it went and to get the course record was an added bonus.”
Winning a race is special in its own right but achieving a course record always adds an extra feel-good factor.
Sweeney continued: “I was aware of the record heading in and knew it was possible if I raced well.
“It definitely gives you that extra bit of satisfaction when you break the course record, especially at an event like the Tom Scott Road Races where there is such a rich history.”
The performance on Sunday gives Sweeney a further spring in his step as training ramps up again in the coming weeks. He will shortly depart for France where the work will continue ahead of the summer track season.
On his return, the mission will be to nail down the qualifying standard for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
Sweeney told the PA: “It was good to get a gauge of where I am at in my training heading into an upcoming altitude training camp to Font Romeu in the French Pyrenees.
“The main aim will be to just build more on my fitness and to fully focus on recovery.
“After the training camp it will almost be time to start the summer track season where I am targeting some fast 5000m races.
“Achieving the qualifying standard of 13:40 for the Commonwealth Games is my number one priority and hopefully I can make the team for Birmingham.”
