GAA Miler Meet delivers PBs and strong runs at Scotstoun

Saturday 29th July 2023

Photos by Simon Wootton

Lewis Hannigan stripped more than ten seconds off his 1500m PB with a stirring victory run at the GAA Miler Meet.

The Kilbarchan AAC athlete, who represented GB and NI at the Euro Cross in 2021 at U20 level, revealed recovering from health issues via diabetes is leading to improved performance on the track.

Cambuslang’s Gavin Smith was another Miler Meet regular savouring the winning feeling as he closed out the top Men’s 5000m race inside the prize pot time standard with a PB run of 14:14.

Hannigan had a firm control on his race throughout and edged away from the chasing Andrew McGill on the final lap with the Livingston athlete, at 3:49.06, and Luke Davidson (3:49.88) the others to break 3:50.

‘It was a good run and great to get a big PB because I was at 3:56 in 2021 and then last year was due to run here but had Covid,’ said Lewis, who clocked 3:45.16 for that fine PB.

‘I’ve had some issues with my Diabetes and that affected the first half of the season. I’m learning more about things I should be doing and that’s helped my performances.

‘I was tiring in races and warm weather at time was a problem too. Now I’m getting lots of help and advice from doctors and so on. I’m looking forward to the cross country season again.’

Returning to that top 5000m race, Smith crossed the line in 14:14.89 to get inside the GAA time standard for the prize pot.

Gavin’s Cambuslang team-mate, Fraser Stewart, finished strongly for second in 14:20 with Harry Henriksen of Edinburgh Uni in third and Callum Tharme of Cambuslang/Strathclyde Uni in fourth with those three athletes all on 14:20 in an exciting finish.

Photos on Facebook by Simon Wootton

There were other fine performances amid the usual high rash of PB and SB performances on the Scotstoun track with conditions fine for a late July evening in Glasgow.

Four young athletes chose that backdrop for their final preparations befroe racing in even warmer climes – with Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games.

The Scotland team flies out early next week for the Trinbago Games and Corey Campbell, Reiss Marshall, Amy Teasdale and Millie McClelland-Brooks ‘tuned up’ with 1500m runs.

Hannah Anderson of East Kilbride/Edinburgh Uni was the fastest female 1500m performance of the night at 4:22.34 with Beth Ansell at 4:23.60 to win the main female race. A good finish in that race from Hannah Ryding took second.

Further back, Millie was at 4:27..05 in readiness for the same distance in Trinbag with Amy at 4:32.88 in preparation for the 3000m in the Caribbean.

Campbell and Marshall were in the 1500m race won by Hannigan – with Team East Lothian’s Corey taking fourth place in 3:50.18 and Pitreavie’s Reiss at 3:53.14.

Angus Wilkinson of East Kilbride clocked another British best for U15 with a new PB run of 3:55.25.

That top 1500m race had no fewer than 13 athletes finishing under 4:00 minutes – an excellent collective effort.

*Cumbernauld AAC Masters athlete Stephen Allen claimed a new Scottish M55 Record over 5000m as he posted 16.31.89. The previous Record had stood since 2008 at 16:56.