Alyson record falls as our 4J Age Groups highlight pathway

Saturday 1st March 2025

Photo finish . . . Kishi Aremu edges out Emma Clark in an exciting U20 Women’s 60m final (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Brodie Young’s latest superb sprinting performance in the United States happened only a few hours before the doors opened at the Emirates Arena for our 4J Age Group Champs.

The Airdrie Harrier now based in New Mexico has had a stunning indoor season with his latest exploit a 200m victory in under 21 seconds – which will take him to second in the Scottish all-time list.

Brodie clocked 20.80 and that is rounded up to 20.87 with altitude taken into consideration.

Alyson Bell, meanwhile, is featuring across our channels with race footage from the UK Indoor Champs where she won gold and broke the Scottish Women’s 200m Record in fine style at 23.12.

Anyone in attendance at our Age Group Champs over the past 5-10 years will recall both Alyson and Brodie sprinting at the Emirates.

And their names were across lips as the action unfolded on the 2025 version – with the event back in the Glasgow venue for the first time in two years.

Indeed, as if to top off our theme here, Livingston athlete Kishi Aremu broke the Scottish U17 Record for 60m as she won gold in the U20 champs.

Kishi’s winning time of 7.52 seconds broke the U17 Women’s 60m Record indoors held by . . . Alyson Bell (at 7.57).

In fact, silver medallist Emma Clark of Whitemoss AAC was also inside the previous time with 7.53 in a photo finish with Aremu with the pair separated by one hundredth of a second.

Thus the word ‘pathway’ echoed around the venue in conversations with coaches, Officials and staff members.

‘I watched Brodie as he came through the age groups with Airdrie Harriers and, of course, as a club, we are hugely proud of what he is now achieving in his athletics,’ said Airdrie coach Kerr More.

‘He had a fantastic work ethic and commitment to training from a young age. It has been totally inspirational to see him come from where he was to where he is now and what an example he’s setting for young Scottish athletes.

‘Listen, I can remember times when he was training on another part of the track and I was taking a session with younger athletes. I would stop the session for a moment and tell the kids to watch Brodie.

‘We did that many times because even in that moment they could learn from his focus, his technique his desirer to get the rep right. We are seeing that hard work pay off and Alyson Bell is another great example – we all watched her as a kid with Giffnock North.

‘You do get kids – and especially parents – who are looking for a ‘quick result’ or success in athletics. It does not work like that; it is about progression through your teenage years. And a longer progression through the different stages.’

Livingston athlete Kishi, who is in our National Academy, was thrilled with her 60m run.

‘I am delighted with the run and it was a really close finish with Emma,’ she said.

‘My PB before today was 7.59 so that’s it down to 7.52. I think it is just hard work with my coach paying off.

‘I know how well Alyson has been performing so it’s great to have one of her Records in the U17 age group.’

Also at U20 level, Josh Mungin‘s 800m run of 1:51.27 was very close to the championship best (held at 1:51.11 and set in 1994).

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Photo by Bobby Gavin

The U15 Champs saw some good performances as athletes chased PBs, places in finals or coveted slots on the 4J Age Groups podium.

VP-Glasgow athlete Tristan Wong claimed double gold in the high jump and pole vault while Aberdeen AAC enjoyed success via Cameron Kennedy and David Clark. Airdrie athlete Dionne Maguiness enjoyed a gold medal double in the high jump and long jump.

There were sprint doubles over 60m and 200m for Callan Campbell of Falkirk and Charlotte Thomas of Dunfermline.

4J Age Group Champs gold medals as follows:

U15

Boys 1500m – Gregor McNaught (Springburn Harriers) 4:25.49
Girls 1500m – Imogen Turner (Team East Lothian) 4:47. 55

Boys 200m – Callan Cambell (Falkirk Victoria Harriers) 24.22
Girls 200m – Charlotte Thomas (Dunfermline Track and Field) 26.22

Boys 300m – Max Barker (Banchory Stonehaven) 38.04
Girls 300m – Amy Johnstone (Carlisle) 43.36
Boys 60m – Cameron Kennedy (Aberdeen AAC) 7.35
Girls 60m – Charlotte Thomas (Dunfermline Track and Field) 8.10
Boys 60m H – Callan Campbell (Falkirk Victoria Harriers) 9.22
Girls 60m H – Ellie Harrison (Gateshead) 9.42
Boys 800m – Harry Robinson (Dundee Hawkhill) 2:05.17
Girls 800m – Nellie Bateman (Belgooly AC) 2:16.27

Boys Long Jump – Joseph Lanahan (Shettleston Harriers) 5.93m
Girls Long Jump – Dionne Maguiness (Airdrie Harriers) 5.10m

Boys Triple Jump – David Clark (Aberdeen AAC) 10.34m
Girls Triple Jump – Charlotte Doyle (VP-Glasgow) 9.53m
Boys High Jump – Tristan Wong (VP-Glasgow) 1.66m
Girls High Jump – Dionne Maguiness (Airdrie Harriers) 1.62m
Boys Pole Vault – Tristan Wong (VP-Glasgow) 2.42m

Boys Shot Put 4k – Murray Robb (Pitreavie AAC) 14.38m
Girls Shot Put 3k – Rosie Paterson (Whitemoss AAC) 9.01m

U20

Men 60m – Gkontouin Imante (Shettleston Harriers) 6.96
Women 60m – Kishi Aremu (Livingston AC) 7.52
Men 800m – Joshua Mungin (Kilbarchan AAC) 1:51.27
Women 800m – Freya Bateman (Belgooly AC) 2:13.58

Men Triple Jump – Abraham Lanahan (Shettleston Harriers) 13.50m
Women Triple Jump – Matilda Brockley (Edinburgh AC) 12.12m
Women Shot Put 4k – Ava Mitchell (VP-Glasgow) 11.26m
Men High Jump – Nathan Mobbs (North Ayrshire AC) 1.83m

Tags: 4J Age Groups, Alyson Bell, Brodie Young, Emirates Arena, Kerr More, Kishi Aremu