IT was a moment to melt the heart of any self-respecting Scottish running enthusiast, a romantic reminder of the glory days of British middle-distance running. So perhaps it was appropriate that Jake Wightman should joke last night that he thought his childhood idol, IAAF President Seb Coe, was about to seal it with a kiss.

The medal which this personable 23-year-old left the Carrara Stadium yesterday clutching was Scotland’s first male Commonwealth 1500m medal since John Robson also took bronze in Edmonton back in 1978. Through his father and coach Geoff Wightman - who also just happened to be serving as stadium announcer and commentator for his son’s first senior medal at a major international event -Wightman has been schooled in the sport and introduced to legends such as Coe, Steve Cram and Steve Ovett.

The first two of those at least were up, close and personal yesterday as Wightman embraced his moment of destiny by finishing a strong third behind reigning champion Elijah Manangoi of Kenya and his countryman Timothy Cheruiyot. TV commentator Cram offered a post race hug before Coe, presenting his historic 1500m bronze medal to him on the podium, grabbed his cheeks affectionately enough that Wightman joked he thought he might have to pucker up.

“Yeah, I thought he was going in for it,” joked Wightman. “Wildest dreams! No, seriously, I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to present that medal. He’s been great this champs.

“I was speaking to him in the tunnel and he couldn’t have said nicer words,” added the 24-year-old. “He had his Loughborough tie on and he said he’d got it on for me. I’m sure he would have swapped it if I hadn’t got a medal though!

“Before we went out he gave me a hug and said he knew I was going to get a medal and he was so proud of how I ran. There’s no-one I’d like to emulate more than him. Steve Cram came up and gave me a hug as soon as I’d finished and he’s been class too. From those guys who have been there and done everything it’s nice to know they admire what you’re doing. I’m so happy I’ve come away with this, on the last day too. It means I can go and enjoy myself.”

Athletic excellence quite simply runs in Wightman’s family. Born in Nottingham to Geoff, a former marathon runner, agent of Liz McColgan and chief executive of Scottish athletics, and his wife Susan Tooby, a former Welsh distance runner, the 23-year-old always seemed fated for track and field. Attending Stewart’s Melville college in Edinburgh, Jake progressed seamlessly into the Scottish system, picking up a European Junior title along the way. If becoming the first European 1500m winner in Diamond League history at the Bislett Games in Oslo wasn’t enough indication of his potential, it all crystallised here in Carrara last night, his father’s voice crackling with emotion when he said ‘…. And its bronze for Scotland’ as he crossed the line.

“There might have been a slight sign of emotion in his voice!” admitted Jake. “To be fair if there was one time I thought he might have cracked would be now. But he still kept his cool. He’s still commentating as we speak so it hasn’t affected him too much but I hope he’s ecstatic on the inside because he’s put so much work in for me since the age of 13 or 14. He’s the head and I am the legs. This is definitely more his medal than mine.”

Having been squeezed into fourth in a dramatic 800m final in midweek, Wightman punched the air in joy and relief on the line, but in truth his burst from 200m to go had given him metres on fourth place. “I just thought it was the time to go and I knew on the bend there was a bronze there,” he said. “I was hoping they [the Kenyans] might fade a bit and I might be able to snatch something else. Just to get a medal I’m so so proud right now.”

Chris O’Hare, still rusty after recent injury problems, finished eighth but said he was delighted to see his countryman get the Commonwealth medal that still eludes him. “Jake and I are good pals,” said O’Hare. “He’s had a hell of a championships and I’m delighted for him. Whoever is better prepared for the championship wins the medals. Unfortunately, in the last three months, I’ve not been able to prepare as efficiently as it hoped and it showed.”

If having parents in the sport is an enviable start, there is one downside. It does tend to curtail your celebrations. “I’ll probably get some rubbish food and a couple of drinks. But dad being the slave master he is has booked us into a VO2 max test on Monday.”