Runner Jemma Reekie aiming for 'special weekend' in Glasgow after winning 800m heat

Jemma Reekie is aiming to make it a “special weekend” in Glasgow by reaching the 800m final after winning her heat at the World Athletics Championships.

The Scottish runner was competing on the opening day of the tournament that is being held at the Emirates Arena over the next three days and ran the 800 metres in less than two minutes with friends, family and supporters cheering her on from the stands.

And the 25-year-old will now take her place in Saturday’s semi-final in the hope of reaching Sunday’s final when she will have a chance of scooping a medal in front of a jubilant home-crowd.

Speaking after clocking 1:59.45 in the first heat she said: “It was really good, I had fun and felt smooth, it was just good to get out there and get running.

“It means so much (to be running in Glasgow) it feels so nice to come home and have that support, I had friends and family in the crowd so it just felt special to be out there today.

“It’s a really good start, I felt really smooth and controlled and tomorrow I’m going to have the run same time, if not quicker, to get through to the final so it was good to get a feel for it today.

“I really hope (it can be a weekend to remember) I’m in really good shape but you can’t take the semi-finals for granted, it’s going to be tough and I can’t make any mistakes so that’s going to be the big thing.

“But, yeah, I am confident if I can make it to that final it will be a special weekend.

“It was so nice to look round and see a lot of people holding up signs for me and cheering me on. That was quite special.”

And in a message to the supporters attending the event she said: “Just make as much noise as possible, get behind the athletes, make it a special weekend and a weekend to remember and we will get more championships in Glasgow.”