Aberdeen experience: City Break with a difference as athletes relish Age Groups action

Monday 18th August 2025

Tom McKean presented medals in the U13 Girls 800m at Aberdeen (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Note: Report subject to checking and additions. It is not intended to be comprehensive in terms of performances but rather seeks to give an overview with some highlights. Thanks.

By Peter Jardine

The average weekend away City Break doesn’t tend to offer the opportunity to compete in your sport’s national championship as a fringe benefit.

But that’s what happens when Aberdeen plays host to the 4J Age Group Championships.

The superb facilities at Aberdeen Sports Village and the event itself is a big draw, of course, and as governing body we would hope the Age Groups remain popular and a target for athletes and coaches.

In addition, a number of clubs are relishing a couple of days in the Granite City as the perfect way to mould team spirt and marry up enjoyment and competition.

Take Motherwell AC, for example. Four of five coaches and parents joined around a dozen athletes for the weekend in Aberdeen.

We were told about the fun of the train journey, the hotel stay and long days at the venue both competing and supporting others. Great to hear.

Photos on Facebook by Bobby Gavin

Tom McKean was among the coaches, incidentally, with Motherwell AC following through on the promise from our superb documentary video on Tom and coaching on driving up participation at national events.

Tom in fact was on hand to present the U13 Girls 800m medals – with Motherwell on the podium – as Gabi Whyte of Strathearn Harriers landed the gold.

For the likes of Orkney and Shetland these trips are always weekend breaks and it was great to see island athletes on the podium as well as visitors from the likes of Gala Harriers.

Aberdeen AAC were really well represented as host club, of course, and it certainly felt like Pitreavie AAC athletes were on the podium or featuring regularly in our photos (by Bobby Gavin).

Day Two of the event saw us host the U13 Champs and the remaining U20 events.

In the younger age group for many this is a first taste of individual competition after coming through our u12s SUPERteams. We hope these young athletes enjoyed their Aberdeen experience.

At U20 level, the Women’s 100m final was a shootout by two gold medallists from the previous day – Sophie Thomas had won the 200m and Holly Whittaker the long jump. Sophie clocked 12.19 to prevail to Holly’s 12.29 in an exciting race.

Law and District AAC’s Scotland international Owen Murphy was sub 11 seconds to win the Men’s U20 100m gold in 10.95 seconds.

One of the best performances in the weekend came in the Women’s 1500m steeplechase. Emma McLennan clocked 4:57.40 to win gold in a Championship Best which improved by ten seconds the mark previously held by Sarah Tait.

The best race finish of the weekend came after 4pm as the Men’s 400m came down to one hundredth of a second. Banchory athlete Luc MacLeod won the gold on 47.88 with Dylan McCulloch of Pitreavie AAC at 47.89.

Edinburgh AC thrower Jacob McKinlay won the shot and discus as club-mate Louis Whyte won the Long Jump.

In a 100m Para race, Frame Runner Christopher Jacquin of Corstorphine clocked 23.52.

Owen Murphy wins U20 Men 100m gold

U20 Champions

U20W Hammer: Sophie Robertson (Cumbernauld AAC) 51.36m
U20W Shot: Ava Mitchell (VP-Glasgow) 11.23m
U20W Discus: Lucy Kernahan (VP-Glasgow) 34.33m
U20W 100m: Sophie Thomas (Dunfermline T and F) 12.19 (-1.6)
U20W 1500m Steeplechase: Emma McLennan (Giffnock North) 4:57.40
U20W 400m: Lauren Abbott (Elgin AAC) 56.03
U20W 1500m: Zara Redmond (Kilbarchan AAC) 4:33.25
U20W 100m Hurdles: Darcie Black (Dunfermline T and F) 15.84 (-1.8)

U20M 100m: Owen Murphy (Law and District AAC) 10.95 (0.2)
U20M 2000m Steeplechase: Calan Chong (Giffnock North) 6:26.55
U20M 110m Hurdles: Angus Rennie (Giffnock North) 15.31 (-1.7)
U20M 400m: Luc MacLeod (Banchory Stonehaven) 47.88
U20M 1500m: James Alexander (Garscube Harriers) 3:57
U20M Hammer: Bobbie Gleeson (Templemore AC) 54.23m
U20M Shot: Jacob McKinlay (Edinburgh AC) 15.78m
U20M Discus: Jacob McKinlay (Edinburgh AC) 41.43m
U20M Long Jump: Louis Whyte (Edinburgh AC) 6.98m

U13 Champions

U13B 100m: Harrison Brand (East Kilbride AC) 12.34 (-0.2)
U13B 200m: Harrison Brand (East Kilbride AC) 25.92 (-0.9)
U13B 800m: Blake Burchill (Harmeny AC) 2:12.70
U13B 75M Hurdles: Christopher Watt (Harmeny AC) 11.92 (0.2)
U13B Long Jump: Tyler Budge (Orkney) 4.89m
U13B Shot: Rhys Porterfield (Whitemoss AAC) 10.56m
U13B Discus: Rhys Porterfield (Whitemoss AAC) 25.81m
U13B Javelin: Testimony Sotannde (Edinburgh AC) 29.42m
U13B High Jump: Adam Connolly (Team East Lothian) 1.38m

U13G 800m: Gabi Whyte (Perth Strathtay Harriers) 2:23.88
U13G 70m Hurdles: Cadha McLuskey (Harmeny AC) 12.02
U13G 100m: Cadha McLuskey (Harmeny AC) 13.50 (-0.7)
U13G High Jump: Isla Woodburn (Tweed Leader) 1.36m
U13G Javelin: Alice Maddams (Seaton AC) 34.22
U13G Shot: Amy Pender (VP-Glasgow) 9.96m
U13G 800m: Gabi Whyte (Perth Strathtay) 2:23.88
U13G Long Jump: Karley Paterson (Aberdeen AAC) 4.90m
U13G Discus: Amy Pender (VP-Glasgow) 31.51m