Villagers of Newmills show support for local runner Nick Griggs ahead of his Commonwealth Games debut
The Co Tyrone village of Newmills are showing their support for local distance runner Nick Griggs who is scheduled to run in Saturday's 5000-metre final at the Commonwealth Games.
The former Mid Ulster Athletic Club member will be up against some formidable talent when he toes the line in Glasgow on the closing night of the games.
Griggs, who has a personal best of 13.05.75 for the distance, could be in with a chance of a medal if he runs to the best of his ability.
Although he’s down for the 5000m, it is possible that the Tyrone athlete may also run in the ‘Commonwealth Mile’ on Wednesday, July 27, where he also has the potential to medal.
Newmills Wildlife Gardening Club have put up a banner wishing him well.
In a social media post they said: “Yesterday we put up our new banner. We are so proud of Nick Griggs who worked many hours in our community garden. Logan our group mascot is in the photo. He is also Nick's family dog.”
Twenty-one-year-old Griggs, a Sport & Exercise Sciences student and current Ulster University high performance sport scholar, is making his Commonwealth Games debut, having established himself as a rising middle distance star in Ireland.
He runs for the Candour track club in Belfast and is coached by former Northern Ireland distance runner Mark Kirk and prior to that by Mid Ulster's Barrie Holmes.
Griggs is a former U20 3000m European champion and was a run away winner of the U23 title at the 2025 European Cross Country Champions in Portugal.
Earlier this year he won the Irish 3000m Indoor title after a thrilling final lap – his first Irish senior title. He was then selected for the 3000m at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland, in March and placed ninth overall.
Come Saturday Griggs, supported by the people of Newmills, will be out to grab a medal and make a bit of history for Northern Ireland.
Griggs teammate in the 5000m race is Callum Morgan, from Glengormley, who has been making steady progress over middle distances and will be aiming to improve his personal best time for the five.