SPRINTER Ross McConnachie was just .03 of a second away from winning a medal in his first national championships. The Wisbech-based runner competed in the 60m sprint final of the under-17 section Scottish National Athletics Championships on Sunday. Coach

SPRINTER Ross McConnachie was just .03 of a second away from winning a medal in his first national championships.

The Wisbech-based runner competed in the 60m sprint final of the under-17 section Scottish National Athletics Championships on Sunday.

Coach Paul Merrell, from Wisbech, said: "The first thing Ross said to me after the final was, 'I want more of this.'

"Ross has put a lot of work in to get this far and he's got bags of potential.

"He's developed a real hunger for success and if he keeps training hard I believe he can go far.

"His ultimate aim is to become an Olympic athlete."

McConnachie, 16, whose father Ian is from Falkirk, Scotland, won his heat in 7.60secs, came second in his semi-final with 7.56secs and fourth in the final in 7.53secs.

His personal best time is 7.50secs.

He said: "I need to work harder. I'm pleased with my times and delighted to reach a national final but to miss out on a medal by 0.3 of a second is hard to take. I need to keep improving."

McConnachie, who attends Thomas Clarkson Community College and is a member of Peterborough Athletic Club, will next compete in the Eastern Championships, in Chelmsford, on March 1.