Young runner inspired after volunteering at world athletics championship

A YOUNG runner from Shetland was rubbing shoulders with athletics stars last weekend after being selected to be a kit carrier at an international competition in Glasgow.

Layla Todd, from Vidlin, said it felt like the “best weekend ever”.

She was a volunteer kit carrier at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena.

The 16-year-old helped out last Sunday evening, when the 800m, 1500m and 4 x 400m finals were being held. “

“Our job was to carry the kit from the final call room back to this other room where all the different teams were,” Todd said.

She was able to watch Jemma Reekie run the 800m as well as some other races.

But Todd managed to meet a number of famous athletes including Olympic medallist Laura Muir and Eilish McColgan, and world record holders Armand Duplantis and Tara Davis-Woodhall.

On the way out she also bumped into twin athletes Lina and Laviai Nielsen.

“They are literally so inspirational and I’m still so shocked and happy I got to see them,” Todd said.

Speaking about the trip to Glasgow, she added: “It’s given me so much motivation and inspiration, and I’m so happy I was able to experience it.”