An Olympic middle distance runner has praised the new £450,000 running track that has been installed at the On-X Sports Centre in Linwood.

The investment by Renfrewshire Council and Kilbarchan Amateur Athletics Club (KAAC) will see league meetings and championship events held there, with any records set on the track ratified by Scottish Athletics.

The new surface, which meets World Athletics' accreditation standards, will benefit runners across Renfrewshire, including Olympic middle-distance runner Jemma Reekie, who counts KAAC as her home club in Scotland.

Jemma Reekie  (Image: Renfrewshire Council) Jemma said: "I started training at the track at On-X as an 11-year-old and with the assistance of the club and my coaches, I have become one of the leading middle distances runners in the world, including competing for Team GB at the last three Olympic Games.

"It is great to see the investment by Renfrewshire Council and Kilbarchan AAC in the facility and I look forward to training at Linwood when I return to Scotland."

Colin Hutchison (Image: Renfrewshire Council) KAAC is contributing £100,000 towards the project to support the hundreds of athletes who train and compete across various age groups in local and national competitions.

John Rodger of KAAC said: “The track at On-X is integral to the continued success of the club and we are delighted to have secured the funding to bring the track up to World Athletics standard and we would like to express our thanks to Renfrewshire Council and OneRen who we have worked with make this happen.”

The new track is part of a wider investment by Renfrewshire Council in its sports facilities, including improvements to Ferguslie Sports Centre and new pitches and a changing pavilion at St James Playing Fields.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes (Image: Renfrewshire Council) Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, culture spokesperson of Renfrewshire Council and chair of OneRen, said: "I'm delighted to see the upgrade of the running track completed at the On-X which will provide Renfrewshire athletes with the best possible surface as we strive to create a sporting environment in which they can thrive."

Colin Hutchison, chief executive of scottishathletics, said: “scottishathletics are extremely grateful for the significant investment made by Renfrewshire Council and Kilbarchan AAC to install a new state-of-the-art track at On-X, Linwood.

“Kilbarchan AAC have led the way in athletics facility development in Scotland over the last five years and the new track surface will complement the indoor training centre opened in 2020.”