Owen Miller from Dunfermline and Fife Athletic Club recently broke through the 4 minute barrier for 1500 metres for the first time in his career. The occasion was the Scottish Athletics Open Graded Meet at Grangemouth Stadium. The ex Woodmill HS T20 middle distance athlete recorded a sensational personal best time of 3:57.35.
Yesterday at the Scottish Championships at Grangmouth Stadium, Owen finished second in his heat in a time of 4.01.21 to qualify for the final. To day in the final, Owen finished 7th in a time of 3.58.97 to record his second fastest performance of all time and run under the four minute barrier for the second occasion in a few weeks. Owen’s coach Steve Doig reckoned he could have run faster had he not been accidentally bumped with 80 metres to go when he was attempting to overtake an athlete.
This weekend Owen has recorded his second and third fastest times for 1500 metres and the Scottish Championships are an approved IPC event. As an IPC registered athlete Owen will be listed on the IPC international ranking list for 1500 metres and able to compare his performances with other T20 1500 metre runners from all over the world.
Owen’s Fife AC team mate Sam Fernado also had another outstanding run on Saturday in 3000m steeplechase finishing 6th in a time of 10.04.25. Like Owen, Sam is enjoying his most successful season to date having recently won two medals at the INAS European Championships in Paris. Coached by Ron Morrison, the Gateside athlete is a relative novice in steeplechase but he consistently turns in excellent performances on the big occasions.
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife