IF Jemma Reekie is nonplussed about the challenge presented by her maiden elite track race at tomorrow's Muller Glasgow Grand Prix at the Emirates Arena it must be because she is required to keep up with a world class athlete in every single track session she does. Reekie has made giant strides since joining Andy Young's training group, based in Glasgow's East End, two years ago, and while she was disappointed with a fifth place finish over 1500m in the British trials which cost her any remaining chance of reaching this week's IAAF World Indoors Championships, she hopes to atone for that against a field which includes two Kenyans, two Ethiopians, a World Championship finalist Angelika Cichocka of Poland, her countrywoman Steph Twell and a couple of UK-based runners who finished ahead of her last weekend.
"I have seen the start list but not really looked into it too much because I line up against the best in the world in every session on this track," Reekie told Herald Sport. "Now I just need to line up against some more of the best in the world. I chase Laura down in sessions so I’ll just chase the rest of them down.
"I was disappointed last week but looking back at it all the girls who beat me last week are all very good girls with good times," she said. "But I am sure I will make up for it this week. Andy actually thought I ran well. I don’t like to think as myself as the youngest in the race. I am on the start line so I am just the same as everybody else. But maybe I have to remind myself that I am still transitioning to the seniors."
Reekie suffers from asthma - a bout of which was serious enough to hospitalise her for four days in June ahead of her European Under-20s title. "It is quite a frustrating thing, it has been for a year or two now," she said. "I have gradually just had to work on things that can improve it. The only thing doctors can give me is steroids and I am not prepared to take time off training. I am learning about it as I go on. It is frustrating when it flares up but I will just take it in my stride."
For Mhairi Hendry, meanwhile, the 21-year-old hopes her show-closing Scottish showdown with Lynsey Sharp over 800m can be the perfect preparation for her baptism of fire in Birmingham. Much interest at a packed Emirates Arena will also rest in the contest between the seasoned Sharp, whose indoor season has been served out in the United States as she builds for the Commonwealth Games, and the 21-year-old Hendry, who has trimmed more than two seconds off her PB in the space of three weeks. Hendry shocked the world, if not herself, by taking a silver medal in last week’s British Championships in a time of 2.01.30 and dealing with the crowd will be invaluable ahead of her adventure at the IAAF World Indoor Championships, which begin in Birmingham on Thursday. “The 800m will be the last event, so that can get me used to running in front of a big crowd, which will be the case again in March,” Hendry said recently. “I’m stepping up a level, against some very well-known athletes, so it’s an exciting opportunity.”
Elsewhere, Jake Wightman - recently crowned British champion in the 1500m, and due to compete at that distance in Birmingham alongside his countryman Chris O’Hare – drops down to 800m. Eilidh Doyle’s excellent early-season form will be tested by a formidable 400m field which includes world champion Phyllis Francis of the USA and Stephanie Ann MacPherson of Jamaica. Maria Lyle, an eight time global medallist and reigning triple European champion, is one of three Scottish para athletes who will compete in a 60m race for T37-38 athletes alongside Amy Carr and Abbie McNally.
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