4J Senior Champs deliver excitement and Scottish titles

Saturday 4th February 2023

Nikkie Manson leaps to a Native Record for indoors in the Women’s Long Jump with 6.37m (photo by Bobby Gavin)

*Please note this report is subject to checks and alterations – and the intention is to cover highlights (rather than every single gold medal performance).

Online Results

Scottish champions were crowned and medals claimed at an exciting 4J Senior and U17s Champs.

Once again the Emirates Arena in Glasgow – and our superb Officials – provided the perfect stage for another day of strong performances in the 4J Indoor Season.

Combined Events specialist Adam Hoole added two individual event titles to last week’s heptathlon gold while Giffnock North’s Alyson Bell won the Women’s 60m sprints title.

Nikki Manson is best known for her high jumping but her improvement in long jump saw her leap to a superb new PB of 6.37m – and move second equal on the all-time list for indoors.

The excitement inside the Emirates Arena was reflected across our social media channels and there should be plenty of content for the track and field community to enjoy.

We say a huge thank to all who supported the event – competing athletes, their families and coaches as well as their clubs. And, as noted above, the Officials in purple and red excelled themselves.

Photos by Bobby Gavin on Facebook

Jane Davidson wins hurdles gold (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Bell took gold in the Senior Women’s final with a good run of 7.48 as Sarah Malone took the silver with 7.53. The Giffnock North athlete had clocked 7.34 earlier this season in a mixed race.

‘I’m really pleased to take the title and it is my first time in the Senior Champs and with three rounds,’ said Alyson.

‘I want to run consistently in the 7.40s and then try and pull out my best in the British Champs.

‘It’s an exciting year ahead after being at the World Juniors with GB last summer in Cali. We set a British Record in the 4x100m relay in the heats but then didn’t get the baton round in the final.

‘There are Euro U23 Champs this summer and I really want to try and make an individual slot – that’s a big goal for me now for 2023.’

Adam Hoole made it three Scottish titles in eight days as he followed up his Heptathlon win the previous weekend by taking hurdles and long jump gold. In the jump, it was another PB as he reached 7.32m after five PBs in the CE Champs.

‘I am loving the Emirates Arena venue at the moment and I am delighted with three golds in two weekends,’ said Adam.

‘It was a decent improvement in the long jump from the PB in the CE champs and it is all just coming from a good winter of hard work and getting help from my coaches.’

Nikki Manson was thrilled to move second equal on the Indoor Women’s long jump all-time list – at 6.37 level with Jade Nimmo and Sarah Warnock. And that is also a Native Record indoors for Nikki.

English athlete Lucy Hadaway delivered a superb Championship best at 6.66m to win.

‘I’m really pleased with that as before today my best long jump was 6.04m,’ said Nikki.

‘I’m feeling an injury at the moment so have had to stop doing the high jump for the moment. But it is very encouraging to improve in the long jump as I look towards combined Events.

‘To be honest it was good to be out there and competing again. I wasn’t here last year and prior to that it was Covid so it has been a while. I still want to do more in the sport.’

In the middle distance races, there were familiar names on the podium as Stephen Mackay of Inverness and Hannah Cameron of Aberdeen won the 800m finals.,

The men’s 1500m final was an exciting race with Central AC’s Ben Greenwood just strong enough for gold as Masters athlete, Philippa Millage of VP-Glasgow, won the women’s title.

Krishawn Aiken won a thrilling finish to the 200m final as he headed Murray Fotheringham by only three hundredths of a second; with Native Record holder Dean Patterson in third place – at the age of 17.

‘I’m pleased to win it and it was close with Murray at the finish – I could feel him getting close,’ said Krishawn.

Dean’s such a tremendous prospect and he is already my hero. He has the Native Record from the National Open and that still stands after today so fair play to him.’