Olympic Angus athlete Eilish McColgan helped put Brechin High School youngsters through their paces on Tuesday as part of a drive to help promote the benefits of sports and fitness.
The first-year youngsters took on a circuit of seven sport stations at a session based on the Scottish Athletics giant heptathlon programme.
Middle distance star Eilish, who represented Great Britain at London 2012 and in Rio this year took time out of her winter training schedule to take part in the Brechin Community Campus event.
Great morning with the kids at Brechin Community Campus helping with their Giant Heptathlon! pic.twitter.com/L0qQ2hmDA1
— Eilish Mccolgan (@EilishMccolgan) December 13, 2016
The 26-year-old Rio 5,000 metres finalist said she was impressed by the levels of enthusiasm on display at the Angus event.
Giant heptathlon is a format developed for the S1 and S2 year groups, providing a platform for young people to get involved in the basic principles of athletics in a fun, team-based environment.
It can be used as part of PE curriculum sessions, or in a more formal competitive structure within the school, or across local areas.
@EilishMccolgan visited @BrechinHigh1 today for an athletics masterclass @angusalive pic.twitter.com/W9b3AKzH5s
— BrechinActiveSchools (@Brechin_AS) December 13, 2016
Eilish said: “These classes are a great route into sports and fitness and, who knows, maybe there is a youngster here today that could become one of the athletics stars of the future.
“One of the first competitions I competed in as a youngster was the pentathlon, so it’s great to see the energy and enjoyment that today’s masterclass has created.”
Athletics masterclass with @EilishMccolgan and Brechin Community Campus this morning! @angusalive @brechinhigh_PE pic.twitter.com/RTNdy3ffn2
— Angus Active Schools (@ActiveSchAngus) December 13, 2016
The event was organised by Eilish’s corporate partners, Angus car dealers Mackie Motors and ANGUSalive to promote and support the area’s giant heptathlon programme.
Local qualifiers are being held at Lochside leisure centre in Forfar on February 1 and 3 next year, with the regional final taking place at Dundee & Angus College Gardyne campus on February 21.
ANGUSalive senior manager for sport and leisure, Colin Knight said: “Eilish has been able to give them insight into what it takes to become an elite athlete and also highlighted the very real benefits that everyone can enjoy by having a healthy and active lifestyle.”
