 Pitreavie AAC athletes at the Scottish National T&F Champs 2008 |
Pitreavie athlete were in action at Scotstoun Stadium over the weekend and came back with a great medal haul and 5 Scottish Senior Titles.
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On Saturday there were Championship Titles for 400m Hurdlers Eilidh Child and Francis Smith. Both athletes had to contend with the rain and water lying on the track, Eilidh was in a class of her own when taking 1st place in 58.08 seconds almost four seconds ahead of 2nd place athlete. It was Eilidh’s sixth Championship Title of the season.
Francis defended his Title in grand style with a winning time of 52.87 seconds half a second ahead of second place. Both athletes received gold medals and in recognition of their in put, coaches Norman Gardiner and John Macdonald also received Gold Medals.
Three Pitreavie athletes battled through heat and semi final to reach the final of the 100m. Nick Smith was the favourite for the title and he lived up to that billing winning the race in a time of 10.58. Ryan Oswald and Jamie Coull recorded the same time of 10.85 seconds in the Final with Ryan getting the nod for 3rd place and Jamie 4th . Both Ryan and Jamie won their respective heats in legal personal bests – Ryan 10.61 for and Jamie 10.73 seconds.
Sean McQueen ran in the 400m heats placing 4th in his heat with a time of 50.7 seconds. Michael Burns also ran in the 400m where he smashed his personal best running 51.3 seconds for 6th in his heat. Michael then tried a tricky double running in the 400m Hurdles not long after where he was a bit tired running 60.23 seconds for 5th in the final.
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On the second day of the Championships the weather was somewhat kinder to the athletes. Jamie Coull and Sean McQueen were Pitreavie’s representative in the 200m. Sean qualified for the Semi by finishing 3rd in his heat in 23.00 seconds and was 7th in the Semi in 23.04 seconds.
Jamie went on to win the Final in a personal best time of 21.31 secs with a wind speed of 2.5 seconds. Jamie’s coach Dave Coombe of Dundee also received a Gold Medal.
In the 3000m steeple chase Paul McCloskey ran a well planned race staying with 2002 Commonwealth Games athlete Ian Murdoch until 500m to go then opening up a substantial lead to win in 9 mins 32.55 seconds, 5 seconds ahead. Stephen Irwin also ran a well judged race to place third in a time of 10 mins 11.69 seconds. Tom Fleming running his first ever 3000m Steeplechase was 6th in a time of 10 mins 44.44 seconds.
Paul’s Coach John Wands of Pitreavie also received a Gold Medal.
Francis Smith also turned out on the second day. He put in a terrific effort in an attempt to defend his 110m Hurdles title by taking 2nd place in a personal best and new club record time of 14.08 seconds with a legal wind of plus 1.9 seconds. This year’s winner was Commonwealth Games athlete Alan Scott of Whitemoss AAC, his time was a Scottish Native Record of 13.82 seconds.
In the1st heat of the Ladies 200m Stacey Downie of Pitreavie AAC found herself up against Great Britain Team member for the World Championships Christine Ohuruogu of Newham and Essex Beagles. Stacey was an excellent 2nd and qualified for the final. In the Final Edinburgh’s Susan Deacon was making her final appearance on a Scottish Track. Susan led for three quarters of the race until Ohuruogu took the lead with Stacey Downie closing on Susan in the final stages of the race. Ohuruogu’s time was 23.71 seconds Susan Deacon 24.03 seconds and Stacey Downie and excellent personal best in 3rd place in 24.09 seconds, wind speed 2.4 mps.
Graeme Oudney ran a solid 800m to attempt to defend the title he won last year but he was just pipped coming 2nd in a time of 1 min 52.23. Craig robertson was also in the 800m final and placed 7th in a time of 1 minute 56.10 seconds (1 minute 55.80 seconds in heat).
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During the Senior Championships the age group sprint relay Scottish Championships were held. Pitreavie’s Under 13 girls 4 x 100m relay team of Rose Fagan, Kirsten Galbraith, Rachel Easton and Kara Bradbeer were in a class of their own. They won their heat by over 4 seconds and proved far too strong for the opposition by taking 1st place in the final in 55.47 seconds with 2nd place Giffnock North AC on 56.83secs.
In the Under 15 Girls 4 x 100m relay Championship Pitreavie’s Anna Robertson, Rebecca Law, Bethanie Finlayson and Claire Duncan qualified for the Final by taking 2nd place in their heat in 52.75 seconds and 5th place in the Final in 52.90 seconds.
All four girls will still be in the same age group next season.
NG/PA/GMcD 13/08/2007
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