Age Groups in Aberdeen: Event graduates show Scottish pathway with club vests on show

Saturday 16th August 2025

Nieve Hannell wins tight finish in the U20 Women;s 800m final at Aberdeen (photo by Bobby Gavin)

By Peter Jardine, Head of Communications

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.

One glance through the career profiles of Sarah Calvert and Sarah Tait (hereafter to be referred to as Sarah C and Sarah T) would tell you the value of our 4J Age Group Champs.

We like to think of the event as combining both development and performance covering as it does the U13 and U15 age groups as well as the U20s.

The U20 programme is spread over two days and that works because it gives athletes in each of the two younger age groups the opportunity to see – right before their eyes on the track and in the field in Aberdeen – the pathway in Scotland.

Sarah C and Sarah T are effectively now recent ‘graduates’ of that pathway with the new UK champion at 1500m having competed for Livingston in these events in her teens (Sarah C) and the GB Senior international steeplechaser from Lasswade likewise in her early years in the sport (Sarah T).

Both wore their club vests at the UK Champs when claiming gold and silver recently – and both those club vests were among many on display at Aberdeen on Saturday.

Strong entry numbers helped generate good competition and an atmosphere to savour among athletes, coaches, Officials and volunteers.

On these occasions, the #SALtogether ethos can help everyone and a culture of support, encouragement and positive thinking is very much what the governing body hopes to generate – while acknowledging there are issues.

Holly Whittaker on her way to superb Long Jump PB at 6.03m (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Volunteer helpers assisting Officials to deliver the 4J Age Groups is part of that and we hope our U15 athletes relished their championship experience at the superb facilities of Aberdeen Sports Village.

There was even an inclusive element with Frame Runner Finlay Menzies, selected for the World Para Champs in India, given a run out over 100m while attending a classification assessment in Aberdeen. We understand the Livingston AC athlete’s place in the GB and NI team for India has now been confirmed. Great news.

In performance terms, one of the U20 highlights was certainly in the Women’s Long Jump. U17 athlete Holly Whittaker leapt to a home win with the Aberdeen AAC athlete beyond 6m for the first time with her 6.03m PB. That followed on from a windy 5.94m in Birmingham a week earlier.

Also at U20,there was a nice 800m double for Pitreavie AAC. Nieve Hannell took the Women’s gold in a tight finish with the top three all at 2:15. Caleb McLeod led from gun to tape and had a comfortable enough margin as he clocked 1:51.67.

Pitreavie had another U20 track champion as Harris Mackie took 200m gold in 22.16 seconds. More medals headed to Fife when Dunfermline’s Sophie Thomas won the Women’s 200m final.

Airdrie Harriers athlete Dionne Maguinness was another following up from England Athletics success. Dionne won CE gold last week and here she took gold in the Long Jump and the High Jump.

Like Dionne, Whitemoss AAC athlete Rosie Paterson enjoyed a gold medal double in the throws.

There was a Triple Jump gold double for host club Aberdeen AAC at U15 level thanks to the performances of Rachel Gove and David Clark.

Aberdeen’s day improved still further when Cameron Kennedy added the 200m gold to the 100m title won earlier on.

U15 Champions

U15G 100m: Amy Johnstone (Carlisle) 12.93 (-2.4)
U15G 75m Hurdles: Kacey Watson (Kilmarnock Harriers) 11.77 (-0.7)
U15G 200m:
U15G 300m: Sophie Pledger (Morpeth) 42.47
U15 G 800m: Lola Finnigan (North Ayrshire AC) 2:14.47
U15G 1500m: Oliva Lyne (Inverclyde AC) 4:47.56
U15G Hammer: Fearne Bell (Blyth RC) 42.36m
U15G Shot: Piper Jackson (Ayr Seaforth) 9.78m
U15G Long Jump: Dionne Maguinness (Airdrie Harriers) 5.37m
U15G Javelin: Rosie Paterson (Whitemoss AAC) 28.24m
U15G High Jump: Dionne Maguinness (Airdrie Harriers) 1.62m
U15G Discus: Rosie Paterson (Whitemoss AAC) 25.69
U15G Triple Jump: Rachel Gove (Aberdeen AAC) 10.53m
U15G Pole Vault: Branna Kenny (Edinburgh AC) 2.41m

U15B 100m: Cameron Kennedy (Aberdeen AAC) 11.67 (-1.1)
U15 B 200m: Cameron Kennedy (Aberdeen AAC) 23.33
U15B 300m: Max Barker (Banchory Stonehaven) 36.76
U15B 800m: Harry Robinson (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) 2:06.73
U15B 1500m: Gregor McNaught (Springburn Harriers)4:15.11
U15B Pole Vault: Reuben Black (Pitreavie AAC) 3.11m
U15B Long Jump: Kalle McKay (Banchory Stonehaven) 6.29m
U15B 80m Hurdles: Michael Massey (Pitreavie AAC) 11.49 (-0.8)
U15B Shot: Murray Robb (Pitreavie AAC) 13.75m
U15B Hammer: Ethan Gordon (Kilmarnock Harriers) 47.98m
U15B Discus: Murray Robb (Pitreavie AAC) 36.69m
U15B Triple Jump: David Clark (Aberdeen AAC) 11.14m
U15B High Jump: Duncan McGregor (Inverness Harriers) 1.75m
U15B Javelin: Sam Kingston (Leevale) 43.06m

U20 Champions

U20W Pole Vault: Ella Cheshire (Pitreavie AAC) 3.31m
U20W Javelin: Katie Kingston (Leevale) 38.04m
U20W 200m: Sophie Thomas (Dunfermline T and F) 23.99 (-0.8)
U20W 400m Hurdles: Grace Elizabeth Malley (Whitemoss AAC) 62.79
U20W 800m: Nieve Hannell (Pitreavie AAC) 2:15.18
U20W High Jump: Maeve Fleming (Leevale) 1.50m
U20M Javelin: Zak Fearn (Team East Lothian) 57.77m
U20M 400m Hurdles: Andy Crerar (Reading AC) 55.64
U20M Long Jump: Holly Whittaker (Aberdeen AAC) 6.03m
U20M High Jump: Callum Newton (Dunfermline T and F) 1.91m
U20M 800m: Caleb McLeod (Pitreavie AAC) 1:51.67
U20M 200m: Harris Mackie (Pitreavie AAC) 22.16
U20M Pole Vault: Nathan Mobbs (North Ayrshire AC) 4.46m

*Apologies if we have missed someone. Checks still on-going! Please bear with us . . .