Championship medals are back – thanks to GAA Miler Meet

Saturday 5th June 2021

Megan Keith of Inverness Harriers on her way to the Scottish U20 Women’s 3000m title at Linwood (photo by Bobby Gavin)

RESULTS

Championship action returned to Scottish track and field after a lengthy absence at Linwood – as athletes once again savoured the GAA Miler Meet experience.

Issues over Covid-19 restrictions and Glasgow being in Level 3 – up until midnight on Friday – led to a late switch of venue but once again the endurance community robustly dealt with the challenges.

And it was brilliant to see a whole host of top performances as well as our Scottish U20 and U17 3000m Championships within the overall 800/3000 meet, which is organised by the GAA alongside the British Milers club and which delivered a PB rate of around 60 percent.

Inverness Harriers athlete Megan Keith took the U20 Women’s title with a 9:19.05 run that was inside the Euro U20 qualifying standard and also sixth best all-time.

The silver and bronze medals both went back to Aberdeen, as sisters Kirsty and Caitlin Purcell joined Megan on the podium.

Garscube Harriers athlete Louisa Brown is a convert from swimming not so very long ago and her switch to athletics continues to be very impressive.

Louisa clocked 9:45.04 to win the U17 Women’s gold and that is also a sixth best all-time run in her age group. Valencia Wright of Giffnock took the silver and Olivia Clarke of Corstorphine landed the bronze.

Great to be back . . . GAA Miler Meet action from Linwood (photo by Bobby Gavin)

In the Men’s U20 medals, Kane Elliott led the way with a run of 8:14.73 that was inside the Euro U20 qualifying time. Duncan Robinson of Giffnock took a superb silver given he has only recently come into track and field (via can-fit) and the bronze was claimed by Peter Bradshaw of Inverclyde AC.

Team East Lothian’s Corey Campbell won the U17 Men’s gold with 8:36.09 as Giffnock duo Duncan Deverill and Reuben Macdonald took the silver and bronze respectively. Corey’s run was the seventh best all-time for U17 Men.

There were a whole host of good performances across the distances including those from Sarah Tait (9:21.78 for 3000m) and Masters athletes Fiona Matheson and Paul Forbes. Central AC’s Morag Millar was among those to relish a PB.

Big thank you to all involved in delivering the GAA Miler Meet – great to see these meets come back!