The athletics track at Queens Park, Inverness, has been officially reopened after a £135,000 refurbishment.

The first person to run a lap was 20-year-old Team GB member Jamie Bowie from Milton of Leyes, Inverness, who said: "It feels great to be back on the track, it actually feels faster."

Bowie was also joined on the track by high jumper Rachel Mackenzie and Team Highland members, Paul Davidson and Andrew Leathem, who completed in the Special Olympics (GB) Summer Games in Leicester recently.

James Martin, general manager at the facility said: "It was absolutely fantastic to see these up and coming athletes running the first few laps on the new track at Queens Park.

"With the World Championships currently being shown on TV recently where the 100m record was smashed, we are hopeful that profile like this, along with the developments at Queens Park, may encourage more children to take up athletics.

"More children taking part would in the first instance help with their health and fitness but in the longer term support with the growth of athletics groups."

The track revamp was jointly funded by the Inverness Common Good Fund and The Highland Council.

Photograph: Jamie Bowie on the new track