Kilbarchan men land Relay Record as Howard, Emma win CE titles

Monday 31st January 2022

It had promised to be a hectic weekend at the Emirates Arena with three championship events scheduled over two days – and that’s exactly what happened.

Records fell, PB were delivered and athletes strode towards the podium as scottishathletics stages the National Club Relay Champs; our indoor Combined Events Champs; and Masters 3000m Champs.

World Records in age categories in the Masters 3000m Champs for Fiona Matheson at W60 and Alastair Walker at M65 were real highlights – and have been covered in another story.

So let’s turn our focus initially to Saturday and the National Club Relay Champs.

Senior titles were on the line in the 4x200m events and, in the Men’s final, Kilbarchan AAC came up with an excellent performance to take golds in what was a new Scottish Club Record for the event at 1:27.20.

That was down to the efforts of the quartet of Kade Thomas, Stephen Johnston, Stephen Dunlop and Krishawn Aiken on the anchor leg. VP-Glasgow took the silver medals in 1:28.46 and Pitreavie AAC were third in 1:31.20.

Edinburgh AC topped the podium in the Women’s 4x200m final after an exciting finish with rivals Giffnock North AC.

Katie Purves brought the baton home for EAC in 1:41.22 after good runs by Emily Craig, Holly McArthur and Joda Kokovworho. Giffnock were at 1:41.44 and the bronze medals headed for Dundee Hawkhill Harriers after they clocked 1:44.83.

In the younger age groups, athletes at U17, U15 and U13 levels were fighting for places in finals which are back at the Emirates on Sunday 13 February.

At this stage, we say a huge thank you to all athletes, clubs and coaches for committing to championship events and of course to our Officials for all their hard work to make the events happen.

Senior Men’s 4x200m podium for 2022 with winners Kilbarchan AAC joined by VP-Glasgow and Pitreavie AAC (photo by Bobby Gavin)

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Howard Bell and Matthew Chandler in hurdles action during their heptathlon battle (photo by Bobby Gavin)

When the Combined Events Champs drew to a close on Sunday afternoon, there were Senior golds for Kilbarchan AAC’s Howard Bell and Edinburgh AC’s Emma Canning.

In the Men’s Heptathlon, Howard tallied 5269 points to win from Matthew Chandler of Kilbarchan AAC.

There were golds in the men’s division as follows: U20 William Hodi (Nairn); U17 Daniel Martin (Giffnock North); U15 Luke Pichler (English, Blyth); U13 Abraham Lanahan (Shettleston).

Emma has a Scotland appearance coming up at DNA Athletics and she won on Sunday with a points tally of 3773 from Anna Forbes (VP Glasgow) and Phoebe Lewis (North Ayrhsire AC).

There were golds in the women’s division as follows: U20 Amy Kennedy (Cumbernauld); U17 Stroma Fraser (Inverness Harriers); Victoria Anestik (Falkirk); Leanna Elliott (Airdrie)

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Invitation races over both days saw a number of Scots land indoor PB performances.

The outstanding performance therein came on Saturday afternoon over 800m as Fife AC’s Jenny Selman clocked a fine 2:01.84 run to get close to the GB World Indoors standard (2:01.50) and to the Commonwealth Games standard.

In the Men’s 800m race, Kane Elliott of Falkirkv Vics won in 1:50.87 with Stephen Mackay of Inverness close behind in 1:50.95.

On Sunday, Zoey Clark won the Women’s 400m in 53.09 with a number of PBs behind her for Roisin Harrison, Rebecca Grieve and Kathryn Christie.

For Pitreavie’s Rebecca, her 55.21 run was the sixth best all-time at U20.