Photo by Bobby Gavin
Neil Gourley will race Josh Kerr this weekend in the opening meet for Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track project. The Scottish duo are set to go head-to-head over both 1500m and 800m such is the nature of the new event.
Jamaica is the far-flung location for the Grand Slam Track opener but the less salubrious high school tracks of Eastwood and Williamwood on the south side of Glasgow played host to Neil on a flying visit home by the World Indoors silver medallist.
By Peter Jardine, Head of Communications
The Giffnock North AC family rolled out the welcome mat for a very special guest at training at two locations on the same night last week.
Neil Gourley was less than 24 hours off the flight after a long journey back to Glasgow from Nanjing, China, where we won silver in the Men’s 1500m at the World Indoors.
But it gives the perfect illustration of his commitment to ‘Inspiring the Next Generation’ – title of our recent Young People’s Forum Conference – that he made returning to his grassroots a clear priority during a short break.
Bringing along his Nanjing bling was just an added bonus for the Giffnock youngsters . . .
Clare Stevenson was Neil’s first coach and was there at Eastwood as ever coaching U11s when her former prodigy strolled onto the track with that global medal around his neck.
Later the same evening, Neil moved on to Williamwood where Dudley Walker and Lynne Macdougall were coaching more groups.
‘If I can inspire youngsters at my old club here at Giffnock North or indeed across athletics in Scotland then I’m happy with that,’ grinned Neil.
‘Winning global medals wasn’t on my mind when I started out. You just want to enjoy it at that age and try and get better. Thankfully I did.
Neil relishes arrival moment after hopeful travel
Neil meets young Giffnock North AC athletes at training at Williamwood (photo by Bobby Gavin)
‘I have had a fair number of setbacks in my career. Most athlete will have disappointments – maybe some more than others.
‘But I have always been kind of resilient. Maybe it is a stubborn nature and refusing to take ‘No’ for an answer.
‘I have always been able to pick myself up after lows. I also consider myself very lucky to have had a number of highs as well.
‘When something ‘bad’ happens I usually take 24-48 hours to dwell on it and allow myself to feel sorry for myself about the low point.
‘But, after that, it is a case of picking yourself up doing whatever you can to improve the situation and work with what is within your control.’
Neil, who won a silver medal at the European Indoors in Turkey two years ago, added his global gong in Nanjing by finishing second to Jakob Ingebrigtsen (as in Istanbul in 2023).
In the postscript to the podium moment, we noted that nine of the last ten major championship events in athletics have featured at least one Scot among the medals.
It is a fantastic run which started at the World Champs in Oregon in the summer of 2022 when Jake Wightman won gold and Laura Muir took bronze – both in the 1500m.
‘That stat about Scottish athletes is brilliant,’ said Neil.
‘It just was not the case when I was growing up that we would have such consistency at a very high level of international track and field. And medal success.
‘We are in an era where, while it is not taken for granted, there is an expectancy that this Scottish high level will be there and be maintained.
‘Recently it has and I hope it will continue.
‘I am really proud to be a part of that line of success. It is not something I ever thought I would be . . . so I’m very glad to do my bit.’
Photos by Bobby Gavin
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Features, Giffnock North AC, Josh Kerr, Neil Gourley, World Indoors
