RECORD breaking business student, Meggan-Dawson Farrell’s Marathon effort has strengthened her position as one of Scotland’s top wheelchair athletes.
Meggan (19) from Tullibody who is studying for an NC in Business and Administration – broke the Scottish Record with a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes and 55 seconds at the London Marathon recently.
Meggan – who was diagnosed with spina bifida when she was born – now holds the Scottish Womens’ records for every wheelchair distance event including: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5K, 10k and now the marathon.
Her fantastic achievement takes on even more significance considering she has only been training professionally for two years. It is made even more remarkable by the fact her first taste of the London Marathon experience – when she entered the mini 5K race two years ago – ended in disappointment in the UK capital when she crashed out and chipped a bone in her elbow.
Meggan said: “I never thought I would complete the marathon let alone set a new Scottish record. And when I crashed out and hurt my arm at the mini event two years ago it seemed a very long way away. But this has more than made up for it.
“The Olympics this year have come too soon for me, but I have already made the qualification time for the 1,500m Commonwealth Games and I hope I can qualify for them when they take place in Glasgow in 2014.
“Then, after that, I will be setting my sights on Rio in 2016.
“I am a full-time athlete and train twice a day six times a week, but I have made sure to make time for my studies and I plan to come back to Forth Valley College to concentrate on an NC Administration after I complete my Business and Administration course.
“I would say to anyone who has a dream to never let it go and never let anyone stop them from trying to achieve it. I never ever did any PE at primary or high school, but when I took up athletics, it felt right and I just went for it.”
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