LACHLAN Thomas is proving to be ‘summit special’ after being called up to represent Great Britain in a major European competition next month.
Lachlan Thomas.
The Invergordon teenager has been selected to the national squad that will compete at the European Off Road Running Championship in Slovenia.
The 18-year-old will be taking on top athletes from across Europe in the under-20 category of the competition which takes place in Kamnik between Friday, June 5 and Sunday, June 7.
Thomas, who has just completed his final year at Invegordon Academy, was selected after impressive performances in races last week.
He finished in third place at an Up Hill Only competition in Keswick and also finished in second place at an Up and Down trial in Sedburgh.
Lachlan Thomas.
Thomas says he is delighted to have been selected and is looking forward to the challenge in Slovenia next month.
“This will be my first time competing at the European Off Road Running Championships,” he said.
“I have competed in competitions abroad before, running in races in Ireland, Slovakia and Spain.
“If I can get top-10 finishes in both races I will be competing in and help Great Britain get on to the podium, that would be good for me.”
Thomas is a member of Ross County Athletics Club which he joined when he was 14. Before that, he was part of Alness Sunday Running Club which encouraged him to get involved in competitive running.
He has also achieved success in major running competitions in the Highlands.
In addition, he has also won gold at the Inverness 5k at the Inverness Half Marathon in 2023 and 2024.
He also represented Scotland at the International Youth Cup last year.
Last weekend, Thomas was in Croatia as part of UK Youth Skyrunning when he took part in an Up Hill Race that involved 4.5km with a 980 metres ascent and finished in eighth place.
Lachlan Thomas (left) with members of the Great Britain squad.
Now he has completed school, Thomas is preparing to head to Edinburgh University after the summer as he received an unconditional offer to study geography.
While in Edinburgh, Thomas says he will look to progress his running career further and scale new heights in mountain running competitions.
He said: “That is my aim.
“I will be concentrating on mountain running and also take part in cross country running during the winter.
“I will look to join the university athletics club and I can’t wait to take part in training there.”
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