From a young age the 23-year-old from West Linton has been defying the odds and beating boys who were bigger and initially better than him.

As a 12 and 13-year-old he won his fair share of races on the handicapped Borders and Highland Games circuits.

But at the regional and national championships there were always a few in front.

Night after night of travelling up and down to Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh for gruelling training sessions with the Dave Campbell school soon paid dividend.

And the titles gradually started coming.

At the age of 15 Chris won silver at the Scottish Under 17s indoor 1500 metres.

The following winter cross country titles and the Scottish Under 20s 1500 metres were won.

That summer he also landed the Scottish 800 metres title and took silver in the 1500 metres.

Chris told us: “When I was young I didn’t really win all that much – I was never far away but rarely won.

“I was putting in the training and started to notice the improvement. I started beating boys who had been beating me.

“You start getting more and more confident when you win titles and when you break through time barriers.

“There’s never been a single moment when my athletics career took off – it has been a long, hard slog to get to where I am.” Chris was rightly considered one of Scotland’s great middle-distance hopes when leaving Peebles High School in 2009.

But it was only after he made the tough decision of taking up a scholarship offer from Tulsa University in the USA that he became the number one contender.

Initially the rapid increase in training in America took its toll with a hip injury leaving him sidelined for several months.

But soon America got a true taste of the flying Scot with a string of Conference 800 metres and 1500 metres wins.

Chris continued: “The decision to go to America was a difficult one. I had to leave behind everything I knew and everything I loved – but it was something I had to do.

“I know for sure that I wouldn’t be the same athlete today if I hadn’t gone to America.” As well as becoming the youngest Scot to ever break four minutes for the mile, Chris was named as Collegiate Athlete of the Year and won several major titles during a golden three years in America.

But competing Stateside did have its set backs, and in 2012 GB selectors overlooked Chris for the London Olympics despite finishing third at the trials.

He responded like he’s always done – and won the British Championships the following year.

A hamstring injury last month in Oslo did cast a shadow over his preparations for Glasgow – but a new best time of 3:35.06 at the Diamond League meeting on the Hampden track a fortnight ago has placed him amongst the likely athletes to make the 1500 metres final.

Chris added: “The hamstring injury was a bit of a scare but I’m fine now.

“Apart from the Ethiopia and USA athletes all of the best 1500 metres runners are at the Commonwealth Games – it is a very strong field.

“I am going there knowing it will be a hard ask – getting through the heats will be tough enough without thinking any further ahead. All I can do is give it my best shot.

“I don’t have a set goal for Glasgow – I’d just set myself up for disappointment. My heat will be my final and then we’ll see.

“It’s going to be hard work – but I’m used to hard work.” Chris will compete in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games 1500 metres on Friday, August 1, just after 6pm.

The final is scheduled for the following evening.