Tom Holligan admits no-one was more surprised with his rise to prominence this year than himself, but the Edinburgh sprinter has vowed to scale yet more new heights in 2011.

The 16-year-old burst onto the Scottish athletics scene in the outdoor season, winning 100m silver and 200m gold at the England Athletics U15/U17 Championships.

As well as his double-medal winning haul, the Firrhill High School pupil also lowered both his 100 and 200m personal bests – with his time over the shorter distance of 10.84seconds enough to place him fifth on the senior Scottish rankings for 2010.

Those displays have seen the Edinburgh AC athlete invited to train with the senior Scottish relay squad as well as earning him a spot on the Bank of Scotland Development Countdown Camp.

And far from being overawed by his meteoric rise Holligan is adamant he can continue his improvement next year as he targets his first GB vest at the World Youth Championships in France.

“This year has been absolutely amazing for me and the season went a lot better than I expected it would,” said Holligan.

“I didn’t really think I had the times that I ran in me, but having run those times, next year I just want to aim even higher.

“It would be amazing to get to the World Youths and that is what I am working towards now.  My coach and I have sat down and had a look at next season and we think that is a good chance to get to an international event and get a GB vest because I will in the top year of eligibility, and from what I can see the qualifying times will be realistic.

“They haven’t released them yet but I think they will be times that I can get and it would be amazing to get there.

Meanwhile, Ayr sprinter Caroline George has vowed to transform herself from junior champion to senior medal contender next year after sweeping all before her in 2010.

The 16-year-old Belmont Academy student claimed double gold over 100m and 200m at the Scottish Schools Championships in June after beginning her season with a host of indoor medals.

George, who also lowered her lifetime 200m best to 24.67secs, continued her dominance by repeating the trick at the Scottish U17 Championships in August.

And after finishing the season ranked second-quickest senior over 200m and third over half the distance, George is desperate to challenge the likes of Scottish No.1 Lee McConnell next year.

“It has been one of the best seasons that I have had,” said George, one of over 300 athletes supported through Bank of Scotland Countdown Camps at National, Development and Regional level every year.

“I won the 100m and the 200m at the Scottish Schools and then I won the 100m and 200m at the Scottish U17 Championships as well.

 

“I think next season I would like to try and win the senior Scottish championships because I will be old enough to compete and I would like to see how well I can do.

“There are lots of good athletes but I am raked quite high and I think I would have a good chance of winning.

“I’m training quite hard now and then I am looking towards the indoor championships at the start of the year.”

And after admitting her hard work has paid off this year, the Glen Harrower coached Ayr Seaforth runner is determined to keep her nose to the grindstone.

“I have really increased my training this year and done more hours and I think that is what made the biggest difference,” added George.

“I’ve been training with Glen for three years now and it has been going well and I feeling like I am improving and getting better and better.

 “I do think about 2014 and I watched the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and it was really good and I am excited that it is coming to Scotland.

“I’m really hopeful that I can be a part of it because it will be a great event and it would be great to compete in front of a big home crowd.”

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Bank of Scotland is a major sponsor of scottishathletics, supporting developing athletes through a range of national age group championships and National and Regional Countdown Camps throughout the year.