Athlete Beth on track for London Olympics 2012
PROMISING young athlete Beth Potter is one step closer to her dream of competing in the London Olympics following a £1,000 award.
The City of Glasgow 3000 metres runner says the cash will help her bid to compete in this summer's showpiece European Junior Championships in Serbia — which could prove to be a launchpad for her Olympic dreams.
Beth (17) received the money after running a personal best time of nine minutes 15 seconds at the Loughborough International meeting last month.
Although she was taking part in her first senior race, the time was a full 15 seconds under the qualifying time for the event in Serbia.
The former Bearsden Academy pupil is one of 15 up-and-coming athletes who will receive funding from UKA Heroes Project to help towards their sim of representing Team GB in 2012.
She said: "Beating the qualifying time was a real relief because it takes the pressure off a little bit.
"The European Juniors is the big target for me this summer and it's great that I've already got the qualifying time.
"I would love to get a medal and I believe I'm capable of doing that if everything goes the way I want it to."
She added: "There are plenty of quality athletes involved in the project and I'm sure that we are all going to be pushing each other on. It's a great opportunity for all of us and I intend to make the most of it."
Beth, who also runs 1500 metres, still needs to finish in the top two in the AAA Championships in July to cement her qualification for Serbia
She admits: "There's still a lot of hard work to be done to get to the event but I know I can go even quicker to make sure I'm on the plane."
A spokesperson for the UKA Heroes Project said: "Beth was one of 15 athletes who will be joining the Heroes Project after being handpicked by UKA's Performance team after showing considerable potential.
"She will receive two 500 bursaries towards kit, travel expenses, medical support and equipment during the summer, while one of the 15 athletes will bank a further 1000 should they be selected as the winning Hero by UKA."
The UKA Heroes project is sponsored by Original Source and is an initiative which offers financial support to talented young athletes who are working towards competing at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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Weather for Milngavie
Sunday 05 February 2012
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