How Lasswade AC’s Glasgow 2014 role models ‘mesmerised’ Sarah Tait

Tuesday 9th September 2025

Photo via West Virginia Uni Track and Field

Sarah sets Scottish Record and lands UK Champs silver medal

Sarah Tait has told how returning to her roots at Lasswade AC has underlined the important of role models in our sport.

The steeplechaser is with GB and NI at their training camp in Japan ahead of making her debut in the World Champs.

We spoke to Sarah in Tokyo and one memory from a decade ago was perhaps the perfect summary on how top Scots inspire the next generation.

As she met up again with long-time coach influences Kirk and Linda Smith, presented club championship medals and posted for selfies, Sarah recalled when she was the one asking for photographs and autographs.

‘I went back to the club recently for club championships and was handing out medals and helping out,’ said Sarah.

‘I had youngsters asking for photos with me and it felt odd because I was saying to myself ‘I am not that cool’. But it was really nice to go back.

‘When I was coming up through the age groups with Lasswade AC I was definitely inspired by others.

‘Greg Louden and Guy Learmonth came back to the club after Glasgow 2014 and they were wearing their Team Scotland tracksuits and all the kit from the Commonwealth Games.

‘I was absolutely mesmerised by that and by them. I thought they were amazing and the best athletes ever.

‘And I had to kind of remind myself that some of the younger ones at the club – and other clubs – will be looking up to me now. That is a special feeling

‘Kirk and Linda Smith, my coaches back then and still involved now, have helped me so much on my journey.’

Guy Learmonth and Greg Louden with Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014 (photos by Bobby Gavin)

The journey has taken her from Lasswade to Stirling University and then West Virginia University, where she graduated this summer. The next staging post on the pathway is Tokyo.

‘I want to take it in as much as I can,’ she told us, with Sarah past of the ten-strong Scottish cohort at the Worlds.

‘I am quite excited we are all in the hotel together as a team. I am having breakfast with World champions!

‘Of course I am excited about that but have to try and play it cool and make sure I don’t look like a fan.

‘But I do want to savour it and enjoy it. I want to take it in and learn from it for hopefully many more major championships in the future in my career.

Sarah and Erin Wallace on GB and NI duty at the European U23 Champs in Estonia four years ago

‘I don’t think my younger self would believe this, to be honest.

‘If I was looking back to then I would be telling myself ‘keep enjoying it’ . I don’t think I put too much pressure on myself and when I look back at my journey and the teams I made then I would not change it at all.

‘There was maybe some untapped potential when I was younger but I don’t think you need to be winning everything from your early teens or even U11. ‘

‘So I would just tell my younger self ‘keep enjoying it and do it for the love of the sport‘.