Crash boy, 10, is star at race

Eric Baxter • Published 27 Jul 2010 14:00

POCKET-SIZED Ryan Gray stole the show at Sunday's Ardgowan Hospice 5k race in Greenock - just months after being hit by a car.

The 10-year-old Port Glasgow runner flew around the course in only 18 minutes 26 seconds, coming 11th out of 297 entrants.

His achievement is even more remarkable as he has only just recovered from a car accident in March when he was knocked down on his way home from Newark Primary - and saved from serious injury by his rucksack.

Ryan, of Milton Road, was taken to Inverclyde Royal Hospital with facial injuries and bruising after he ended up under the vehicle.

Now he is back to his running best.

Ryan, a member of Inverclyde Athletic Club, has been running for just a year but is already Britain's top under-11 runner at 800 metres.

He astonished on-lookers on Sunday by covering the course far faster than older, more experienced athletes.

Ryan said: "I run five times a week, including doing speed sessions."

His 12-year-old brother, Ross, ran the race in 18.50, while dad Robert clocked 20.13 and mum Angela 29.50.

Angela said: "Ryan was really badly bruised in the accident, but he couldn't wait to get back to his running."

Ryan got one of the loudest cheers of the day when he stepped forward to receive his prize as top junior in his age group.

This was the fifth running of the 5k, which is organised by Inverclyde Leisure and sponsored by Ardgowan Hospice, Sport Inverclyde, Dallas Carpets and staff at the Royal Bank of Scotland Mortgage Centre.

• Tomorrow's Tele will include a four-page, 5k special, featuring all the runners' names and times.

Tweet

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 27 Jul 10

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Follow @greenocktele