Fortrose Academy pupil wins gold at international athletics event
ANDREW Baird picked up one of the biggest wins of his career as he claimed gold at the School International Athletic Board Track and Field Championship in Wales.
The 16-year-old proved too good for his opposition as he was victorious in the 1500 metres steeplechase last weekend.
The Fortrose Academy fifth year pupil recorded a personal best on his way to victory as he recorded a time of four minutes and 18.98 seconds in Carmathen.
He was three seconds clear of Harrison Stokes of England in second place with 4:21.07 with Andrew Adesanya third in 4:28.45.
Baird says he was delighted with his performance to claim the gold medal against such a high standard of opposition.
“I was very pleased with how I run,” he said.
“The tactics of the race went differently to how I imagined, but it still ended with the right result.
“I also got a small personal best, but I wasn’t really noticing that when I crossed the line.”
Baird has only been competing in steeplechase for just over 12 months, but has quickly established himself as one of the promising athletes for his age group.
He says representing Scotland at SIAB was one of the main reasons he is competing in Steeplechase.
“I started competing in steeplechase last year to get selected for this specific event.
“I have enjoyed competing in the steeplechase and have decided to keep taking part in it.
“There were high calibre of athletes at the race and I wasn’t the favourite to win it.
“But I had a feeling that I was going to win as I hadn’t a properly fast race so far this year.”
Baird has already had success this year, winning the Scottish Schools 1500 Metres Championship.
He has been supported in attending events by the Highland Athlete Travel Awards Scheme.
He is a member of Ross County Athletics Club but he is trained by Inverness Harriers coach Ross Cairns.
Baird credits Cairns for making him an improved athlete and feels his athletics career is going in the right direction under his guidance.
He said: “A lot of my success has been down to him and has helped me to keep going.
“He has coached me through my events and given me tactics and advice on how to compete.”
Baird is following up his success in Wales by competing in a 1500 metres race in Glasgow on Friday night.
He said: “The aim for Friday will be to lower my time over 1500 metres and get quicker over the distance.”
