Law & District AAC runner Gary, of Devon Gardens, Carluke, is now this country's third top under-23 800m runner and the UK's 18th best in this age category following his comfortable Kelvin Hall triumph in 1min 58.45secs.

"The Scottish Uni victory is my best athletics achievement so far," Gary said.

"I won it comfortably and it was a great honour receiving my gold medal.

"My ultimate ambition now is to get to the 2014 Commonwealth Games and I'm quite confident about achieving this.

"The training at Law and District has been coming along very well recently and I've got a great coach in Pat Kelly, who is now 63.

"I've been with Pat since I was 12 and he has done an excellent job with me.

"His enthusiasm, determination and motivational skills are there every single season.

"He has been an inspirational figure and we do our bit to help each other.

"We share the ups and downs, and he always knows if I'm having a good or a bad day.

For more information on this article, see this week's Carluke and Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now.