AN INVERCLYDE schoolgirl is ‘jumping for joy’ after being named third in Scotland for her sport.

Niamh McIntosh starred in the long jump at the Scottish Athletics National Track and Field Championship.

She put in a stellar performance which earned a bronze medal in the under-13s competition.

The 12-year-old athlete from Wemyss Bay says she was delighted with a personal best jump of 4.72m.

Niamh said: “I felt that I’d made my club and my coaches proud and my mum and dad proud.

“I was really happy.”

Niamh, who trains with Inverclyde Athletic Club and is also a keen sprinter, says her success means so much after suffering a serious injury last year.

She said: “I tore my quadricep, so I couldn’t compete.

“Over the last year I got a new coach called Emma Foster and she has worked with me on my long jump and my 200m.”

Niamh achieved a respectable seventh place in her other discipline, the 200m final.

She is also an accomplished swimmer and currently sixth in Scotland for backstroke in her age group.

Niamh, who is in first year at St Columba’s High in Gourock, says her mum Therese, dad Brian and her coaches are a huge support to her.

She is now looking ahead to the future.

Niamh added: “I hope to become an athlete or a sports engineer.”

Lindsay McGurk, head of health and wellbeing at St Columba’s, believes Niamh is a star in the making.
She said: “She is an up and coming athletics star.

“I’m overwhelmed by the amount of young people at our school who are progressing in their area of sport and Niamh is one of those rising stars within athletics.

“With Niamh, it’s a case of watch this space.”