The Next Level

CALLUM HAWKINS HAS HAD A YEAR TO REMEMBER SINCE WINNING IN GLASGOW. NOW HE WANTS TO TURN PROMISE INTO PRIZES, WRITES EUAN CRUMLEY

- Euan Crumley

THE look on Callum Hawkins’ face said it all. As he stormed down the finishing straight in the sunshine, and in blissful isolation, the young Scot couldn’t quite believe what he’d done.

Winning the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run last year was hugely significant for the 25-year-old, whose hands went to his head and jaw hit the floor when he glanced around to see the clock reading 60:24 – a time which was over two minutes faster than the Scottish half-marathon record at the time.

Unfortunately, Hawkins’ mark was subsequently annulled after the Glasgow course was found to have been 149.7m short but, even allowing for the measurement error, his performance had represented a great leap forward.

That run was 12 months ago, when he was also still digesting the achievement of a remarkable top 10 finish in the Olympic marathon, and Hawkins now finds himself operating on a very different level to the one he was performing at as the first leaves of last autumn began to fall.

December saw him come home from the European Cross Country Championships with an impressive individual bronze medal, as well as team gold, while 2017 was barely under way when he came agonisingly close to winning the Great Edinburgh XC after a stirring performance in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat.