The first athletes selected to represent Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have been announced.
A total of 27 sportsmen and women – 23 from athletics and four squash players – have been confirmed as the countdown to the Games reaches the 300-days-to-go mark.
Of those selected, 19 will be competing for the first time at a Commonwealth Games. Jon Doig, Team Scotland chef de mission, praised the athletes’ “amazing performances” as he revealed the 27 names.
“Congratulations to each and every one of them and they can now go into their winter training period fully focused on reaching their peak performance next July in front of a fired-up home crowd.
“I am confident that over the next nine months they will be joined by a record number of fellow Scots, as we aim to have our largest and most successful team ever at Glasgow 2014.”
Some of the names taking to the athletics track in Glasgow next summer include Eilidh Child, the 400m hurdler who won silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Dehli, while Steph Twell, who won bronze in the 1500m in Dehli, has recovered from injury to be selected for the 5000m.
Rising star and veterinary medicine student Laura Muir will compete in the 800m and 1500m after winning bronze in the longer distance at the European U23s in Finland and reaching the final of the European Indoors 1500m. She also reached the semi-finals of the 800m at the World Championships.
There are 11 athletes in the team for the field events of hammer, high jump, long jump, pole vault and discus. Libby Clegg, who won silver at the Paralympics in London, will make her Commonwealth Games debut in the T12 100m.
In squash, Alan Clyne will compete in the men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles, whilst Harry Leitch and Alex Clark will compete in doubles and Frania Gillen-Buchert in women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
Commonwealth Games minister Shona Robison applauded the athletes’ efforts. She said: “As the excitement and anticipation for these Games builds across the country, I look forward to watching our athletes compete at Scotland’s biggest ever sporting event.
“I’m confident that with the significant investment from sportscotland, our high performance athletes, combined with their own commitment and dedication to their sports, will ensure that Team Scotland shines in Glasgow and have their best ever Games.”
Team Scotland for 2014 is predicted to be the largest Scottish team to date with a target of more than 202 athletes aiming for a medal haul of more than 33, to top the tally of 29 at the 2006 Games in Melbourne.