Trevor’s on course for championship

Aug 13 2008 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

A LOCAL runner maintained his hopes of winning the Highland and Border Games circuit championship with success in Fife recently.

Trevor Johnstone, of Airdrie, won both the one and two-mile distance events at the Burntisland Market Day Games.

The 42-year-old’s performance is even more impressive given that he suffered a nasty fall during the two-mile race.

But he told the Advertiser the support from the sidelines inspired him to claim victory.

The social care worker said: “There was a bit of jostling for position and I caught someone’s spikes.

“These things can happen but the encouragement from the people watching was a big help for me.

“I feel like I am hitting my peak at the moment and I always focus on where the top competitors are and try to stay there or thereabouts.”

It was a double success for Trevor in Burntisland after seven-year-old daughter Rachael won the under-10s 60 metres race.

Trevor is looking to retain the over-40s title he won last year and is in with a good shout of clinching the overall championship.

He followed up his success in Fife with a win in the one-mile event at the Luss Games, coming home in a time of four minutes 21 seconds.

In addition, he also earned a fifth-placed finish in the 400 metres and claimed second spot in the 800 metres - finishing positions he was proud of.

Trevor added: “I feel I am running quite well and I am pleased with my fifth and second places at Luss recently.”

At the recent Strathallan Games, the Monklands runner clinched third place in the one-mile event and fourth spot in the two-mile category.

“I feel like I am hitting my peak at the moment and I always focus on where the top competitors are and try to stay there or thereabouts.”