4J Age Group Champs – Our Round-up of Saturday’s action

Saturday 18th February 2023

Above: Lois Macrae, Eilidh Dallas and Isla Gourley on the 1500m podium. (All photos by Bobby Gavin)

Full online results
Photos from Bobby Gavin on our Facebook page

The 4J Studios Indoor Age Group Champs got underway at the Emirates Arena on Saturday, with young athletes taking the opportunity to set PBs, Championship Bests, and even in one case a new Scottish Indoor Record.

That honour went to Lois Macrae (Inverness Harriers), who ran 4:30.57 for victory in the U15 Girls 1500m final, knocking six seconds off the previous record.

It’s a record that has been passed back and forth between Lois and Eilidh Dallas (Strathearn Harriers) several times in recent weeks, and it’s worthy of note that in today’s final, Eilidh ran 4:36.41 for 2nd place – itself ahead of her own previous record of 4:36.49 – these two athletes clearly spurring each other on to great achievements.

It was a fine day for Douglas Knox (Springburn Harriers), who came away with two golds, a silver, and a Championship Best. He won both the U15 Boys 60m Hurdles in 9.22 and the Long Jump with a leap of 6.11, with the latter a CBP. In the 60m he won silver with a 7.67 run.

Below: Douglas on his way to a Championship Best in the long jump

Likewise, Emma Clark (Whitemoss AAC) came away with two titles and a Championship Best – a 7.80 run in the 60m clinched her first title of the day, with 25.02 in the 200m both a CBP and another winner for her – pictured below (with Emma in no 61).

The U15 Boys 800m final was a thriller, with both 1st and 2nd place athletes beating the previous CBP of 2:02.69 – winner Alistair Street (Kilbarchan AAC) finished in 2:00.90 while 2nd placed Calum Dick (Giffnock North AC) crossed the line in 2:01.84.

Indeed, the U15 track athletes were in particularly fine form with Championship Bests also for Angus Wilkinson (East Kilbride) in the U15B 1500m in 4:06.63, and Holly Whittaker (Elgin AAC) in the U15G 60m hurdles with a time of 9.08.

The U15G High Jump gave us a fine spectacle to finish the day with a jump-off to decide the win, with Zoe McKell (Giffnock North AC) finally taking it with a jump of 1.56m, and we believe a string of PBs for other jumpers in that final round.

Congratulations too, to the many other athletes coming away with PBs from a great day of competition, and to their coaches, clubs, parents and other supporters.

Thanks, as ever, to our enthusiastic and diligent officials and volunteers, for all their hard work in ensuring our athletes have the opportunity to shine.

U15

Boys 1500m – 4:06.63 – Angus Wilkinson – East Kilbride
Girls 1500m – 4:30.57 – Lois Macrae – Inverness Harriers
Boys 200m – 23.68 – Alexander Clark – Giffnock North
Girls 200m – 25.02 – Emma Clark – Whitemoss AAC
Girls 300m – 42.45 – Georgia Bruce – Harmeny AC
Boys 60m – 7.58 – Lucas Davidson – Inverness Harriers
Girls 60m – 7.80 – Emma Clark – Whitemoss AAC
Boys 60m – Hurdles – 9.22 Douglas Knox – Springburn Harriers
Girls 60m – Hurdles – 9.08 Holly Whittaker – Elgin AAC
Boys 800m – 2:00.90 – Alistair Street – Kilbarchan AAC
Girls 800m – 2:18.13 – Freya Bateman – Belgooly AC

Boys Long Jump – 6.11m – Douglas Knox – Springburn Harriers
Girls Long Jump – 5.29m – Tiffany Nwaedozie – Belgooly AC
Boys Triple Jump – 10.02m – Archie Smith – Elgin AAC
Girls Triple Jump – 9.66m – Skye Marshall – Gateshead Harriers
Boys High Jump – 1.68m – Eli Adams – North Shield
Girls High Jump – 1.56m – Zoe McKell – Giffnock North
Boys Pole Vault – 3.06m – Nathan Mobbs – North Ayrshire AC
Girls Pole Vault – 2.22m – Breya Gibson – Kilmarnock Harriers
Boys Shot Put 4k – 9.96m – Rhian Mitchell – Kilmarnock Harriers
Girls Shot Put 3k – 10.69m – Niamh Pegrum – Cumbernauld AAC

U20

Men 60m – 6.96 – Gkontouin Imante – Shettleston Harriers
Women 60m – 7.73 – Susan Folorunso – Gateshead Harriers
Men 800m – 1:54.33 – Caleb Mcleod – Pitreavie AAC
Women 800m – 2:13.60 – Katie Sandilands – Fife AC

Men Triple Jump – 14.91m –  Anas Fadeel – Aspire Academy
Women Triple Jump – 11.12m – Matilda Brockley – Annan and District
Women Shot Put 4k –  10.73m – Jade Gray – Law & District
Men High Jump – 1.98m – Matthew Tait – Dunfermline

Tags: 4J Age Group Champs, Age Group champs, Emirates Arena