Fife hurdler Jack Lawrie wants to leave his mark on Europe this season as he bids to sign off from junior competitions in style.
Lawrie has already been busy this indoor season, claiming the Scottish National under-20 400m title in February, as well as winning 60m hurdles gold at the senior championships last month.
And this early season promise has seen the 19-year-old selected as one of 100 emerging stars on the SSE Next Generation programme.
The scheme supports fledgling sports stars by providing vital funding and mentoring from some of the biggest names in the business including Sir Chris Hoy, Darren Campbell and Judy Murray.
Beath High School pupil Lawrie rubbed shoulders with these legends of sport as the scheme’s launch in Wembley.
And with the inspiring words of some of his sporting heroes echoing in his mind, Lawrie insists it is all systems go towards this summer’s European Junior Championships in Sweden.
“Last year was a big stepping stone for me – I was in the middle age group for the juniors and I made a lot of progress into this year – which is my last year as a junior,” the Pitreavie AAC star Lawrie said.
“I’m really hoping to go into the European Junior championships in Sweden and hopefully make the final there. Long term my dream is to play at the Commonwealth Games and represent my home country – that would be an honour.
“But I’m not going to put too pressure on myself – I just want to enjoy it.
“I go through a variety of emotions when I race, in the lead-up to it I’m raring to go and eagerly anticipating the chance of competing against other athletes and testing myself, but then on the day nerves tend to kick in.
“When you are on the starting line it’s quite intense but then as soon as the gun is blown to commence the race you forget everything and you go into auto-pilot. It’s not until you finish that you realise what you have done and it’s a great feeling.
“The financial aspect of the programme is huge and has really helped to give me the chance to compete internationally.”
Lawrie wasn’t the only local athlete selected on the SEE Next Generation programme with Beth Scoon, Amber King and Joseph Nally also making the cut.
And cyclist King, who attends Perth High School, says she is looking forward to making an immediate impact this season as she gears up for the British Championships.
“We’ve got the new season starting in April and I’m really looking forward to it and I hope to get on a podium at the British Championships,” 15-year-old King said.
“In the long term I want to win an Olympic medal, win at the World Championships and make the most out of my career.”
* SSE’s Next Generation programme partners with SportsAid to provide financial support and training to the sports stars of the future. Keep up to date with the latest @SSENextGen