Sports arena off the blocks

A NEW £1 million athletics arena that is due to be officially opened today will see world professional sprinter George McNeil among the guests of honour.

East Lothian Provost Ludovic Broun-Lindsay is set to cut the ribbon on the East Lothian Athletics Arena at Meadowmill, with fun runners getting the first trial of the new track before the East Lothian Junior Track and Field Championships get under way.

The highlight event is to be an invitation one-mile handicap race for elite athletes – including Ross Matheson from Tranent, Andrew Crichton from Dunbar and Ben Sandie and Callum Reid from Haddington. There will also be a wheelchair 400m and 1500m race featuring some of Scotland’s top prospects for Glasgow 2014.

A specially-designed commemorative medal will be awarded to every participant.

The new arena in Prestonpans was funded by East Lothian Council with help from SportsScotland as part of its Legacy project. The project was criticised by Councillor Stuart Currie for failing to create a “single job” in East Lothian.