Nick makes plans for Paris as champion Will leads medals in field

Saturday 29th June 2024

*Report subject to further updates and alterations

Nick Percy put himself firmly in the driving seat for Olympic selection at the UK Champs in Manchester.

The Scottish Record holder had to settle for silver in the men’s discus on a day of three field event medals for Scottish athletes.

But with an Olympic standard achieved in America earlier this year at 67.73m Nick looks to have ticked the required boxes for Team GB selection.

‘I was feeling great and training was going well coming in today but I am disappointed with my throwing today,’ he said, after 58.56m for silver in a competition won by Chukwuemeka Osammor at 59.98m.

‘I just couldn’t get a throw together but pleased to be top two and chuffed for Chuck to take the win as he really has been throwing well this season.

‘To be honest I will be cross for a few hours but then I will get my head down and prepare for Paris. My school where I work breaks up next week so then I can focus on my preparation. ‘

Will Grimsey won the Men’s High Jump with 2.15m the winning height – as the Scot prepares to step away from the sport at 27 years of age.

Alessandro Schenini for his part was delighted with a first medal at this kind of level following recent issues away from the long jump pit. Alessandro leapt out to 7.77m for third place in a competition which saw three Scots finish in the top eight.

Will Grimsey leaps to gold in Manchester (photo by Getty Images for UK Champs)

Will took gold in the Men’s High Jump and was delighted to win the British title – with plans already made to retire later this season.

It was a 2.15m clearance and he is now hoping for a London Diamond League farewell.

‘I came to win so I knew that my chances for Paris had kind have gone so it was all about winning and I got that all done at a height which is the worst of this season,’ he said.

‘It is a little bitter sweet with 2.15m but generally everything was pretty good.

‘I am retiring at the end of this season so I’m hoping to receive an invite for the London Diamond League. It would be great to go and finish my career there.’

Alessandro Schenini took the first Scottish medal of the weekend – and it was the first of his career outside Scotland.

The Giffnock North AC athlete was third in an exciting men’s long jump competition which saw three Scots place in the top eight.

Alessandro’s round one 7.77m stood as his best of the day and was enough for a deserved bronze.

‘I wasn’t sure I was going to do British Champs this year as I’ve had some tough time with mental health recently,’ he said.

‘So to win a medal at this level feels really good and I have to keep telling myself that this is my best season in terms of consistent jumping – the average is up around 7.70m and hopefully there are some bigger ones to come, too.’

Murray Fotheringham was seventh with 7.29 and Adam Hoole was eighth with 7.26m.

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Three Scots will feature in the 800m finals on Sunday.

Jemma Reekie and Erin Wallace made it safely out of the heats in the Women’s event. Hannah Cameron was fourth in the last heat with a fifth place earlier for Beth Ansell.

And Josh Kerr had a fight on his hands to claim the third place required in a heavily stacked second heat of three in the men’s division.

‘I’m here to test myself against the 800m as that will help me for the 1500m in Paris,’ said Josh.

Kilmarnock teenager, Jamie Phillips, did well in his heat to finish fourth with another sub 1:50 run, as the top three progressed. In the first heat, Guy Learmonth was unfortunately squeezed into fourth place.

Nicole Yeargin won her 400m heat with 51.01 to make the final and there was progress at that distance, too, for Brodie Young. Kyle Alexander went out hard in his race but missed out ont he top three.

In the men’s 400m hurdles heats, there was a PB run of 52.85 for Bradley Francis (Edinburgh AC).

Perth athlete Lois Garland came up with PB run of 11.85 in her 100m heat but was just edged out of the semi-finals with some of the qualifiers at 11.84.

Dawn Russell (Kilbarchan AAC) and Erin Waters featured in the Women’s javelin final. Erin was placed seventh with 43.85 and Dawn was in eighth with 43.69.

It the men’s 1500m heats, Neil Gourley was a comfortable race winner and he was to be joined in the final by Cameron Boyek with third place in that race.

Similarly, Laura Muir won her heat and Sarah Calvert will join her in the final after a solid performance to claim fourth in her race.

*In the Women’s 3000m steeplechase final, Sarah Tait was in the hunt for the bronze medal until the final 300m or so but has to settle for fourth place. Nonetheless, the Laswade athlete’s 9:49.88 was a PB.

Eloise Walker was 10th in the Women’s 5000m final.

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Tags: Alessandro Schenini, Manchester, Nick Percy, UK Champs, Will Grimsey