Ross County athlete breaks 1500 metres record which stood for 31 years
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FINLAY Todd has rewritten the record books at Ross County Athletics Club after breaking a 1500 metres fastest time which stood for 31 years.
The 21-year-old, from Killen, broke the previous 1500 metres record held by Stan Mackenzie which had stood since 1990 by running three minutes 53.38 seconds.
He completed one mile in a time of four minutes 11.78 seconds at the Monument Mile at Stirling which is also a new club record.
Todd, who is studying aeronautical engineering at the University of Glasgow, was pleased with his performance last weekend.
“I beat my personal best by 12 seconds,” he said.
“I was delighted with how I performed and it was down to a bit of everything.
“It was a good day and a high-quality race and a lot of guys were up there for running fast times.
“So that always helps for myself to run a fast time.
“It was the highest profile track race I have been in.”
Todd was encouraged to take up athletics at primary school by his dad and has been a member of Ross County Athletics Club since he was young.
He also represents the University of Glasgow Hare and Hounds as a student.
Todd says his achievement was even more impressive considering how the last 14 months have been impacted by the pandemic.
“It was a good run-up of a couple of months of nothing else too much happening.
“It is good to be able to focus on something such as running.
“You can always get a gauge from the training of what you are hoping to run.
“But you never know until you take part in the competition.”
He added: “It is always a guessing game of up until the day of the race of what I will be able to run fast, as well as being able to do what I want to run.
“Until you actually race you never know.”
