Samantha Kinghorn is already a familiar figure on the Scottish Disability Sport athletics scene, writes Fiona Scott.
And the signs are good that the 17-year-old Earlston High School pupil will make a real impact at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The wheelchair athlete is already well into her preparations for Glasgow – where the 1,500m event at Hampden is her target – and a brace of bronze medals from the International Paralympic Committee Grand Prix in Dubai this week certainly augurs well.
A member of the current 51-strong scottishathletics Commonwealth squad, the Red Star AC athlete competed in the open wheelchair events over 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m in Dubai and was also internationally classified, which allows her to race in the T53 class in the future.
The weather was in the 30s all week and the first couple of days’ training and racing were a challenge as the athletes got used to the conditions.
The scale of the event was a great learning experience with many countries represented and big event protocols to be observed. As it transpired, Sammi won bronze over 100m and 200m.
The track surface was slow for wheelchair athletes, so no PBs were recorded, however, the racing experience will be invaluable going forward for the junior athlete.
Last month, Sammi received a further boost in the form of a four-year sponsorship deal with Earlston-based sawmill BSW Timber.
A busy spell of racing is ahead with the main event this year a trip to Switzerland, where Sammi hopes to post a qualifying time for the Commonwealth Games 1,500m wheelchair event.