County athletes claim Scottish Schools Athletics medals and Lyle sets new Scottish 100m T35 best
[photo credit: Bobby Gavin (That One Moment)
Fifteen of East Lothian’s finest took on Scotland’s best at the Scottish Schools Track & Field Championships at Grangemouth Stadium on Friday 12 & Saturday 13 June 2015. Pupils were literally running on the legacy of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, with the recently refurbished stadium at Grangemouth receiving the track from the Glasgow 2014 Games.
There were 11 personal bests set on the day and 3 hard fought medals won over the two-day championship, and on the back of these performances international selections are up for grabs at the Schools International in July. With a number of the pupils involved in Team East Lothian, it is fantastic to see huge progress in performances and these athletes performing at a national level event. Full results can be found online at the SSAA wesbite, or by clicking here
Kate Johnstone (Portobello HS/Team East Lothian) had a fantastic series in the 100m, setting personal bests in the heats and semi finals of the B Girls event. Winning her heat in a personal best time of 12.61s, Johnstone went on to another best in the semi-final with 12.61s – securing her a berth in the final. The final was won in a record breaking performance by Alisha Rees and there was a tight finish for the remaining places on the podium, with Team East Lothian’s Kate Johnstone winning a bronze medal with another strong performance of 12.74. With such a fine performance, Kate could be called up for international selection in the relay at the British Schools International to be held later in July.
Max Leslie (Musselburgh Grammar/ Edinburgh AC) was the second East Lothian medallist of the day, in the 200m sprint for the D Boys. A strong win in the heat of the 200m of 26.08s saw Leslie well placed for the podium going into the final, and went on to win a fine silver medal in the final with 25.90s. In the 100m the following day, in more challenging conditions, he finished just short of the podium with 12.79s for fourth place – less than one tenth of a second from a bronze medal, but it was another strong run regardless
It was Dunbar Grammar’s Cameron Steven (Lasswade/Team East Lothian) who completed the trio of East Lothian medallists. Following a series of personal bests in the previous week, Steven went into the schools championships with strong medal chances and he delivered on the day – following the UK top ranked athlete Ben Greenwood across the line in the 800m, Steven claimed a fine silver medal and looks certain to be selected for his first Scottish international vest at the British Schools International in July. Steven’s time of 1:54.44 was his fourth fastest time ever, despite the challenging conditions.
There were a number of other standout performances along with personal bests from East Lothian and Team East Lothian athletes. Imogen Wilson (Dunbar Grammar) won her 300m heat in a season best of 42.60s. In the final there was somewhat of a blanket finish in the B Girls 300m, with only four tenths of a second separating the winner and the sixth place finisher. Wilson was just shy of a medal this time, but it was a strong run of 42.85s for fifth place. Rosa Gally (Portobello HS) also in the B Girls 300m had a good run in the heats setting a personal best of 43.85s for 5th place.
Charlie Hamilton (Dunbar Grammar) has shown great improvement with his hurdling over the winter, and set two new personal bests over the weekend in the C Boys 80m Hurdles. Running 13.58s for 3rd place in his heat, Hamilton claimed a berth in his first ever Scottish Schools final where he later ran another best of 13.29s for a very commendable 6th. Fellow Dunbar pupil, Fraser Kelly, set a season’s best of 4:47.83 in the C Boys 1500m for 9th place in the heat.
North Berwick’s Owen Ashall was unfortunately just shy of the podium on his first Scottish Schools experience in the D Boys High Jump, in challenging conditions and with a few technical frustrations Ashall cleared 1.50m placing him fourth on count back, with the winner the only one over 1.55m. In the long jump a leap of 4.52m saw him claim 9th place. Cera Gemmell (North Berwick) had two very strong runs in the 1500m, qualifying comfortably in the heats. Gemmell, who is also a very proficient district level swimmer, finished sixth in 5:03.70, just a few tenths short of her personal best.
There were also personal bests for Knox Academy pupils Ben Sutton with a PB of 12.46s for 4th place in the heat of B Boys 100m. Rachel Watson’s personal best of 74.03s in the A Girls 400m Hurdles saw her finish sixth in the final.
Preston Lodge HS pupils were also in good form, with Tarryn Wood jumping a new best in the B Girls High Jump to 1m50, finishing in 10th place. Cameron Tait had a trio of events over the Schools Championships, rewarded with a best of 5.20m in the long jump (7th) and two strong performances in the 100m and 200m C Boys, with 12.82s (Heat 6th) and 26.38s (Heat 6th).
Fellow Team East Lothian athletes, Christopher Stewart (Portobello HS) and Beth Howard (St Georges) also had great performances over the weekend. Chris with a personal best of 5.00m in the C Boys long jump and big personal best of 57.51s to finish 5th in the 400m and Beth with a 4th place finish in the A Girls Triple Jump just shy of a personal best and the podium on this occasion.
South of the Border, Maria Lyle (Team East Lothian) followed up her season opener with a new personal best and a new Scottish best for the T35 100m. Winning her race, Lyle set a massive best of 14.37at the North Counties Championships in Manchester. Lyle’s early season best bodes well in her build up to October’s IPC World Championships in Athletics.
