A SCOTS youngster from Strathallan School in Perth and Kinross has made history by breaking a sprint record which had remained for 33 years.
Sophie Wallwork set Strathallan’s new 200m sprint record at an athletics competition between Strathallan School, Merchiston Castle School, and Fettes College.
The 18-year-old’s time of 24.6 seconds shattered the previous record, which had been in place since 1990 whilst also setting a personal best in the 100m race.
Reflecting on her recent success, Sophie expressed gratitude to her former coach, John Fleming, who identified her potential during her first Sports Day at Strathallan and guided her towards sprinting.
She said: “I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Mr. Fleming, who recognized my talent and nurtured it.
“His unwavering support and guidance have played a crucial role in my accomplishments.
“I am immensely proud of my performance on Tuesday, and I hope it sets a benchmark for future students to strive towards.”
Sophie, who serves as the Athletics Captain at Strathallan, was one of 26 senior pupils who competed at Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh.
Six of the Strathallan athletes secured podium positions in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m events.
Jim Thompson, the Director of Sport at Strathallan, praised the outstanding performances of all the athletes.
He added: “All our athletes delivered outstanding performances, igniting the spirit of friendly rivalry between the schools. It was fantastic to see so many under 16s and over 16s competing.”
After achieving new records, Sophie competed at Strathallan’s highly anticipated Sports Day.
Sophie’s performances on the track not only earned her the prestigious title of Senior Girls Victrix Ludorum but also played a vital role in propelling her school house, Thornbank, to victory in the Fleming Cup.
As a result, Thornbank emerged as the overall House Champions for 2023.
