RENFREWSHIRE athletics star Jemma Reekie broke two more British records at the Millrose Games in New York at the weekend.
Recording a time of 4 minutes 17.88 seconds – beating Laura Muir’s previous British indoor mile record – she also ran the first 1500m in four minutes 0.56 seconds to break the British 1500m record as well.
The Kilbarchan AAC ace is fresh from beating the British indoor 800-metre record at a Glasgow invitational last week – making this her third record in eight days.
READ MORE: Jemma Reekie breaks British indoor 800m record
Competing at the longest running indoor track-andfield event in the world – the Millrose’s Wanamaker Mile – she finished third behind Konstanze Klosterhalfen of Germany (4:17.26) and Elle Purrier of the USA (4:16.85).
Such was the speed of the race, though, that despite finishing in third, Reekie’s time is now the fifth-fastest indoor mile ever.
At the post-run press conference, the 21-year old Reekie explained that she hadn’t even thought about the British record.
“I actually phoned my coach and said, ‘Is that okay?’. I had no clue of what a good mile time was but yeah, it’s a new British record so I’m really pleased that I’ve realised that’s what happened,” she said.
Reekie has shattered her previous personal bests since the start of the year – beating her previous 800m PB by five seconds, her mile PB by almost 10 seconds and indoor 1500m by 13 seconds.
She credits her form to being “in the best shape of my life” as well as a full block of winter training, something she says hasn’t always been the case.
“I get sick quite a lot and the past few years I’ve missed lots of time off training,” she said, explaining that sinus infections have prevented her from training a couple of months every year.
“We decided to get a sinus operation to put a stop to that. It’s an Olympic year and I wanted to be in the best possible place. It was two days before Christmas so it was a sore Christmas but I’d say it’s worth it now,” she laughed.
Training alongside fellow Scot Laura Muir as helped to spur her on, Reekie says.
“I’ve slowly crept up on her. She knows how hard I worked and I appreciate how great an athlete she is,” she said. “On and off the track, I couldn’t ask for a better friend and a better training partner. She’s helped me through a lot, I’ve helped her through a lot. We’ve always got each other.
“I’m getting more confident. I tell myself that I deserve to be on this start line. I’m not a junior anymore, I’m not an under-23 anymore, I need to step up to be a senior.
“I think 1500m is still what I love. I came from an 800m background but it’s one thing to jump on the train and be fast but I also need to learn to pace as well.”
With the Olympics later this year, Reekie is turning her attention towards the summer tournament in Tokyo.
“It’s crazy to think that now I’m thinking of going to one, it’s an absolute dream,” she added. “I think it’s every athlete’s dream. I’m really excited. I know I’ve got good support for the rest of the year but I know I need to keep my feet on the ground. I’ll just keep working, keeping my head down for Tokyo – and hope I can go to my first Olympics.”
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