DUNBAR sprint star Maria Lyle was "really pleased" as she claimed East Lothian's fifth medal of the Commonwealth Games this afternoon (Wednesday). .
The 18-year-old Dunbar Grammar School pupil, who has cerebral palsy, won silver in the T35 100m, holding off the challenge of Australian Brianna Coop to take second place behind another home favourite, 16-year-old Isis Holt.
SILVER! 18 year old @Lyle_Maria wins #TeamScot2018's first athletics medal of #GC2018 taking second in the Para-Sport T35 100m behind Australia's Isis Holt! #OneTeam @scotathletics @SDS_sport pic.twitter.com/32hFNVdq91
— Team Scotland (@Team_Scotland) April 11, 2018
Holt's gold medal winning time was 13.58, while Lyle, a sixth year pupil at Dunbar Grammar School, crossed the finish line in 15.14.
And the teenager - who adds her latest medal to a silver and two bronze at the Paralympic Games in Rio two years ago - was delighted to have won bronze.
She said: "I knew Isis [Holt] would be out in front but I'm really pleased to have won silver."
Congratulations to @Lyle_Maria and her coach @Bowie2Bowie @GC2018 #TeamScot2018 @Team_Scotland @scotathletics pic.twitter.com/BTFgR3VcZl
— TeamEastLothian (@TeamEastLothian) April 11, 2018
“I’m really pleased to win the silver albeit a little bit disappointed with the time, but it’s my first Commonwealth Games and to experience a crowd like that was incredible.
"I don’t get many opportunities to wear the Scotland vest so I’m really pleased to win a medal for Scotland."
She also revealed that mum Susan, a teacher at Dunbar Primary School, made the trip Down Under to support her.
“My mum was out there and I saw so many Scotland flags – the support was amazing," Lyle, pictured below by Kevin McGarry/Team Scotland) added.
"It’s a beautiful medal and it’s a really nice reward for all the hard work and sacrifices you put in to get to this point.
"It’s not often you get to stand on the podium and see the saltire flying so just to have that opportunity to race for your country and win a medal is very special.”
And East Lothian Special Needs Playscheme (ELSNP), of which Lyle is patron, hailed her an "inspiration" after her latest medal triumph.
A tweet from ELSNP read: "mazing result from @Lyle_Maria, so proud to call you our patron, what an inspiration you are to many!"
And Paul Bush, chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said it was a "real privilege" to present the county star with her silver medal.
Elsewhere on the Gold Coast, the men's fours lawn bowls team - featuring Derek Oliver and Alex Marshall - continue their quest for a medal in the knockout stages of that event.
The medal matches in the men's fours are due to take place on Friday.
For full coverage of the county's five medals at the Commonwealth Games so far, see this week's Courier
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