Seven Scottish Para athletes prepare for WPA Euro Champs action in Poland

Sunday 30th May 2021

Maria Lyle competing at Kilmarnock early in May – now she is back on the international stage (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Seven Scottish Para athletes have headed for Poland with GB and NI for this week’s World Para Athletics European Championships.

It is an exciting moment for each of the athletes selected for Bydgoszcz and for indeed their families and coaches and clubs, as hard work over the past couple of years pays off.

And it is also another marvellous reflection on Para athletics in Scotland as our cohort continue to make an impact at British, European and global level.

The action starts on Tuesday and runs through to Saturday. Competing over the next few days will be:

Libby Clegg, Kayleigh Haggo, Maria Lyle, Stef Reid, Mel Woods, Ross Paterson, Alexander Thomson.

Herald feature on Maria Lyle

For wheelchair racer Mel this is a first selection to represent GB and NI with the others having previously represented British Athletics in numerous events.

Three British athletes will compete 100m RaceRunning events including world champion Kayleigh Haggo, who broke the RR2 400m world record earlier this year.

Here are the Scots selected (plus coach, club and event):

Libby Clegg (Joe McDonnell; Charnwood) [Guide runner – Chris Clarke] – T11 200m and 4x100m Universal Relay

Kayleigh Haggo (John Owens; Ayr Seaforth) – RR3 100m

Maria Lyle (Jamie Bowie; Team East Lothian) – T35 100m and 200m

Stef Reid (Aston Moore; Charnwood) – T64 Long Jump

Mel Woods (Rodger Harkins; Red Star) – T54 100m, 400m, 800m and 1500m

Ross Paterson (John Kinder; Red Star) – T38 100m and 400m

Alexander Thomson (Chris Baillie; Victoria Park City of Glasgow) – T38 100m and 400m

Para podcast with wheelchair racer Mel Woods

Alexander Thomson (in VP-Glasgow vest on left) competing at Kilmarnock – now ready for sprints action in Poland (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Exciting 🤩 I will post my race time and live stream link again nearer the time https://t.co/XuoTie5JRT

— Kayleigh Haggo (@kayleigh_haggo) May 27, 2021

Massive Good Luck to the @BritAthletics Para Team on their travels to the European Para Athletics Championships in Bydgoszcz today. Event starts on Tuesday and should be a cracker for GB&NI 👍@PdunnPaula @kaosjones777 @saraheabenson @ParaAthletics https://t.co/W1dL8bhnvl pic.twitter.com/CzVu7qmLLa

— MarkMunro (@MarkMunr0) May 29, 2021