Eilidh Mackenzie

Eilidh Mackenzie is the most successful track and field athlete produced by the Western Isles. Born and brought up in Stornoway, Eilidh was a member of Stornoway Running and Athletics Club and made her debut at the International Island Games in Shetland in 2005 at the tender age of 15, where she won a surprise Bronze medal in the 800m. She then went from strength to strength, winning the Western Isles first ever Gold medal, again over 800m, in a new Games record, in Rhodes in 2007. She followed this with Gold over 1500m in Aland in 2009 and again last year in the Isle of Wight.Eilidh has represented Scotland at age-group level at cross country and is now looking towards the Commonwealth Games in 2014. She has been an inspiration for youngsters across the islands - demonstrating that it is possible to succeed coming from a remote island community. CR