First 27 Team Scotland athletes revealed for Glasgow 2014

By Gary Anderson

September 25 - Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) has today named the first 27 athletes that will wear the blue and white at Glasgow 2014, as the countdown continues with just over 300 days to go until the start of the Games.

CGS hopes to select its largest team ever for a Commonwealth Games and the 23 track and field athletes and four squash players named today are the first of more than 200 squad members hoping to represent their country at their home Games next year.

Nineteen of the athletes will be making their Commonwealth Games debut, while Delhi 2010 silver and bronze medallists hurdler Eilidh Child and middle distance runner Steph Twell will be looking to move up the podium in Glasgow, with Twell joined in the 5,000 metres by Laura Whittle.

Marathon runners Derek Hawkins and Susan Partridge qualified for the team back in April following their performances at the London Marathon, while steeplechaser Eilish McColgan, Scottish 800m champion Guy Learmonth, US based 1500m athlete Chris O'Hare and European under 23 bronze medallist Laura Muir have all booked their places in the squad following solid performances this season.

"I am extremely pleased to announce the first 27 athletes selected for Team Scotland," said Team Scotland Chef de Mission Jon Doig.

"We have witnessed some amazing performances from athletes this summer striving to secure their places to represent Team Scotland at our home Games next year.

"Congratulations to each and every one of them and they can now go into their winter training period fully focused on reaching their peak performance next July in front of a fired-up home crowd.

"I am confident that over the next nine months they will be joined by a record number of fellow Scots, as we aim to have our largest and most successful team ever at Glasgow 2014."

Eilidh Child (centre) claimed the 400m hurdles silver at Delhi 2010

Discus thrower Nick Percy will be one of the youngest members of the team in Glasgow, and the 18-year-old will hoping to build on his two silver medals from the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man.

Percy will be joined by in the field events by hammer throwers Mark Dry, Andy Frost and Susan McKelvie; high jumpers Allan Smith, David Smith, Jayne Nisbet and Emma Nuttall; long jumpers Jade Nimmo and Sarah Warnock; and new Scottish pole vault record holder Jax Thoirs.

London 2012 silver medallist Libby Clegg is one of three Paralympic athletes named to the squad so far and the T12 sprinter, who also bagged two silver medals at this year's International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in Lyon, is joined by wheelchair racers Meggan Dawson-Farrell and Samantha Kinghorn.

Many of the athletes selected have been supported by Scotland's national agency for sports, sportscotland, which has provided expertise and advice through the sportscotland Institute of Sport.

"Congratulations to all 27 athletes who have been selected for Team Scotland," said chief executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris.

"The first selection announcement by Commonwealth Games Scotland means we are fast approaching the Opening Ceremony, so it is a really exciting time for sport in this country."

London 2012 silver medallist Libby Clegg is one of three Paralympians named to the Glasgow 2014 Scotland squad so far

Three of the four squash players pencilled in for Glasgow have appeared at previous Commonwealth Games, with Alan Clyne set to compete in the men's singles and doubles as well as the mixed doubles, while Harry Leitch and Alex Clark will compete in the men's doubles and Frania Gillen-Buchert in the women's doubles and mixed doubles.

"I congratulate the first athletes selected to represent Team Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow," said Scotland's Commonwealth Games and Sports Minister, Shona Robison.

"This announcement marks an important step for Team Scotland and I wish all other Scottish athletes good luck as they aim to follow these 27 athletes to Glasgow.

"As the excitement and anticipation for these Games builds across the country, I look forward to watching our athletes compete at Scotland's biggest ever sporting event.

"I'm confident that with the significant investment from sportscotland, our high performance athletes, combined with their own commitment and dedication to their sports, will ensure that Team Scotland shines in Glasgow and have their best ever Games."

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