Edinburgh AC and Cambuslang both set new marks in 3x800m Relays

Sunday 23rd June 2024

This report remains subject to checks and alterations. Thanks for your patience.

The 4J National Relays is an event which delivers excitement every time it is staged as clubs the length and breadth of Scotland battle for glory over various distances and age groups – with team efforts.

And the 2024 version, held at the new Riverside Arena in Ayr, did not disappoint with not one but two significant Records delivered in the Senior 3x800m finals.

Cambuslang Harriers men took down the National Record mark they had set themselves some 13 months earlier at Scotstoun with recent recruit, and 3.59 miler in Belfast last weekend, Andrew McGill bringing the baton home.

Edinburgh AC women, for their part, had travelled west with serious ambitions of threatening the Women’s Championship record in that same 3x800m event.

They did so in style with a run of 6:43.21 which eclipsed the mark of 6:46.71 set by City of Glasgow at Meadowbank some 32 years earlier in 1992.

Congratulations to the team of Beth Ansell, Margot Wywroll and Kirsty Walker (and their coaches) on that excellent achievement.

‘I did a wee bit of research a few days ago after we had entered the 3x800m,’ said Beth.

‘So we were very much aware of the Record at 6:46 and, looking at Season Bests and Personal Bests, we felt it was something which might prove achievable,

‘You don’t know until the day itself but we are delighted to have run 6:43.’

Cambuslang had set the Record at 5:44.48 and strong runs by Chris McLew and Jamie Mackinnon, who were in last year’s team, set up McGill for the anchor leg and it became apparent after the bell that a new mark was distinctly possible. The winning time duly came in at 5:43.18.

Giffnock North AC took the silver medals and Cumbernauld AAC completed the Men’s podium.

There were wins for VP-Glasgow men and Pitreavie AAC women in the 4x100m finals on Sunday morning.

The successful quartet for VP-Glasgow featured Jamie Stevenson, Sol Stewart, Andrew Rennie and Brandon Dunlop as they clocked 43.07. Taking silvers were Pitreavie AAC with bronze medals for Giffnock North AAC A team.

The winning team for Pitreavie AAC women featured Elena Clark, Katie Dinwoodie, Emma Pedrana and Darcie Black, as they ran 48.14. Edinburgh Ac took the silver medals and the podium was completed by Law and District AAC.

Towards the end of the programme the Senior 4x400m finals were centre-stage.

VP-Glasgow won the Women’s race to land golds for the team of Charlotte Hume, Jenna Hilditch, Chloe Lambert and Lorne Kerr. The VP-Glasgow winning team time was 3:52.85.

Taking silver medals were Law and District AAC with the third team on the podium being Glasgow School of Sport.

The Senior Men’s 4x400m final was one of the most exciting of the day as Pitreavie AAC claimed another set of golds.

Billy Doyle, Evan Wilson and Cameron Thores put Caleb McLeod in a good position but there was still work to be done to close it out in 3:20.35 – only half a second ahead of Edinburgh AC (3:10.85) with Bradley Francis on the anchor leg.

With a DQ decision at play, Kilmarnock Harriers took the bronze medals there.

Photo by Bobby Gavin

As always on these occasions we thank clubs for a huge response in terms of entries for a National event.

The 277 teams entered was exactly the same figure for last year’s event held in Glasgow at Scotstoun and there were around 1300 athlete names submitted.

We also, of course, say big thank you to our dedicated team of Officials who make events happen on a weekly basis in Scotland.

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Saturday saw clubs converge on Ayr for the SUPERteams National Final.

This is always an exciting day for many of the youngest athletes at our clubs as teams of U12s take on the events, learning about competition along the way.

Team managers and Officials have important roles to play and we thank all those involved in a great day in Ayr.

The reaction on young faces tells the story and we noted many clubs posting team photos on their own social media channels (which we believe is the right platform for this age group).

Falkirk Vics summed it all up rather well: ‘Great turnout by the clubs; many thanks to the scottishathletics Officials for being great with the kids, Certainly know that all at Falkirk Vics loved the day out.’

Making the podium on the day were winners Giffnock North as well as far-travelled Inverness Harriers and Falkirk Victoria Harriers.

It was also good to see members and mentors from our Young People’s Forum attend the SUPERteams final and learn more about our Officials and staging events.

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Tags: 4J National Relays, Ayr, Cambuslang Harriers, Edinburgh AC, Riverside Arena, SuperTEAMS