Melanie headed Paralympics in Paris; Jamie breaks Scottish U20 Record 800

Thursday 25th July 2024

British Athletics team announcement story

Melanie Woods has become the third Scot picked for the Paralympic Games.

The full Team Gb selection for the Paralympics in Paris has now been confirmed with 33 athletes selected.

Ben Sandilands and Samantha Kinghorn were named in an initial selection waves (of 10 athletes) and now Melanie takes the Scottish cohort to three.

Melanie, who is with Red Star AC and is coached by Rodger Harkins, will compete in three events – T54 400, 600m and 1500m. It is Melanie’s second Paralympics after having also competed in Tokyo.

Ben, the Fife AC athlete who is coached by Steve Doig, will head to his first Paralympic in the T20 1500m.

Samantha, from Red Star AC and also coached by Rodger Harkins, will compete in three events – T53 100m, 400m and 800m

We send our warm congratulations to all three athletes and their families, coaches and support teams.

Photo by Bobby Gavin

+++

Jamie Phillips in race action at Crownpoint with Kilbarchan AAC’s Josh Mungin, who holds the U17 Scottish Record for 800m, just behind (photo by Simon Wootton)

The Scottish Men’s U20 Record for 800m has fallen after fully 45 years!

News broke from England’s North-West on Wednesday evening of a superb run by Jamie Phillips at a BMC meet in Bury.

The Kilmarnock Harriers athlete clocked a superb 1:47.46 to take down a mark set by Graham Williamson.

Graham posted 1:47.53 back in 1979 and that stood as the Record for all of 45 years. That will now move to Jamie, subject to the usual ratification procedures.

The 1500m and mile records at U20 are still against Graham Williamson’s name and, given the Chris O’Hare-Jake Wightman-Neil Gourley-Josh Kerr era some 10-15 years ago, that rather summarises his very fine career as a Junior athlete.

Graham also held the 3000m U20 Record until this summer when Corey Campbell of Team East Lothian improved it.