Airdrie Harriers starlet Brodie Young has been hailed “world-class” by his coach after securing a scholarship in America.
And it is hoped switching Coatbridge for Albuquerque, New Mexico will help the 19-year-old realise his full potential.
Harriers coach James McMenemy has worked with Brodie for the past eight years and the hard yards have helped the Chryston teen land a huge opportunity at the University of New Mexico, where he will embark on a four-year scholarship.
Brodie’s big chance comes hot on the heels of back-to-back Scottish Senior Championship gold medals in the 400m, as well as representing Great Britain in the 4x400m relay at the under-20 World Championships in Colombia last month.
Medical engineer McMenemy has explained his potential was spotted at the club’s Langloan track a few years ago and he believes his student will be able to fully thrive using the elite facilities the university have on offer.
The reigning Scottish Athletics development coach of the year told Lanarkshire Live Sport : “If you were to take a picture of the facilities at Langloan track and consider the fact a world-class under-20 athlete has been produced in that environment, it’s exceptional.
“The building there burned down four years ago and it’s still never been repaired so we’ve never actually had a roof over his head in those four years, in all weathers.
“Brodie has been down there through all of it and the full group he trains with are all really resilient.
“Brodie has shown the way and that whether you are in the middle of Coatbridge with poor facilities or not, at the end of the day it’s never really held him back.
“We are hoping now that going to America with world-class facilities will really bring him on.
“He’s an excellent example to anyone. He’s had fantastic support from his parents and his grandparents and there’s a lot of people who have helped him, but he appreciates all of that and he’s obviously blossomed into something that you can only describe as world class for his age.”
McMenemy says his opportunity could have come sooner, but Brodie was determined to have a shot at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, which proved unsuccessful, or the World U20 Championships.
He added: “It’s pretty exceptional what he has done.
“He has worked very hard to get into that position and, in doing so, he is now the second fastest Scot of all time for his age which is no mean feat.
“Brodie has won back-to-back Scottish senior championships and last month that was him defending the under-20 title when he’s still only 19.
“He was offered colleges last year but he wanted to have a real crack at the whip this year, either for the Commonwealth Games or the U20 World Championships, so he decided to stay.
“Due to that, he’s had an exceptional season.
“We had him over to Florida for a summer camp and there was a lot of input there from world-class coaches.
“He raced over there as well and did his first American meet. There was a slight dip in his performances because he was unwell for a week but his form then peaked at the trials for the U20 World Championship trials at the English Championships, where he won it and got a personal best.
“That’s why he was picked for the World Championships. But it was unfortunate that he couldn’t run in the individual events because he was needed to make the relay teams work.
“He competed in the mixed and men’s relays in the end and did well.
“So the university are really lucky to have him – and they are very keen to have him as well because they are trying to build a good 4x4 relay team.
“It’s a full scholarship and it’s very good for him.
“He will basically spend the winter over there, doing indoor meets, and then he will come back home for the summer meets in the UK.
“He will keep me up-to-date with how he is getting on over there and he will come back to push for more GB opportunities.”
As for the man himself, Brodie admits it could be life-changing.
He said: “I’m heading out to do a few seasons out there so I’m really looking forward to it.
“This is something I’d been looking at over the last couple of years.
“I was speaking to a couple of different universities and decided on New Mexico.
“When I come back in the summer hopefully that can open up some more GB opportunities for me.
“It’s been pretty much non-stop for me these past few weeks and it’s a chance to change my life, and also maintain my athletics standards out there.”
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