The 20-year-old sprinter juggles six days of training every week with his studies at Glasgow Caledonian University.
In the past year he has recovered from illness to represent Scotland twice at senior level: in the 200m and as part of the 4x100m team at the Loughborough International in May, and again in early June at a World Athletics tour meeting in Geneva.
The former Annan Academy pupil managed to win a gold medal in Italy at the World Tour meeting in San Vito Al Tagliamento.
Finlay also claimed victory in the 100m at the Scottish University Championships, competed in both the 100m and 200m at the British Athletics Championships, and recently came second in the 200m at the Scottish National Senior Athletics Championships in Grangemouth.
A member of Giffnock North AC and Glasgow Jaguars, Finlay’s athletics career began at the age of seven when he joined hometown club ADAC.
He said: “It can be difficult at times to balance both studying and training, especially during exam periods or in the lead up to big competitions, it’s definitely important to have your time planned out well so you can stay on top of things.
“Most competitions I compete in now are senior events, there is only a couple of U23 age group competitions.
“I participate in the 100 and 200 metres, my favoured event is definitely the 200m as it gives me a little longer to get into my running.”
After previously representing Scotland at U17 level in 2019, Finlay made the step up to the senior ranks for the first time this year.
He said: “Representing my country at senior level was an amazing experience. The first time was in Loughborough in May, which was a great experience to share with a few members of my training group.
“Also being able to travel abroad with the Scotland team to the world tour meeting in Geneva was an invaluable experience as it was such a high standard of competition.”
A time of 20.92s at Woodford in July means Finlay is now ranked the 16th fastest 200m runner in Scottish history. And the accountancy student hopes to crunch the numbers and get an even faster time in the future.
He said: “I definitely feel I can climb higher on the all-time list, I had a very disrupted build up to my season last year. I missed months of training and competing due to being hospitalised with severe pneumonia, so if I can run as quick as I have off the back of that I can definitely go a lot quicker.”
With the season now over, the sprinter is already looking forward to competing indoors at the start of next year and he has big ambitions in the sport with his eyes on one goal in particular.
Finlay said: “I would like to continue improving and competing at the highest domestic level, as well as competing more and more at competitions around Europe.
“My long-term goal in the sport is to represent Scotland at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.”
Finlay would like to express thanks to EZEElite, Glasgow Life and The Holywood trust for their support through the season. As well as his coach, Ryan McAllister, training group and family.
