Scottish Championship medals, PBs and sunshine at GAA Miler Meet

Saturday 1st June 2024

Our U20 Men’s medallists in the Scottish 3000m Champs (all photos by Simon Wootton)

By Peter Jardine

Friday night athletics action; strong performances and sunshine at Crownpoint track: what’s not to like?

Nothing whatsoever was the answer as another successful Glasgow Athletics Association meet in the city’s East End delivered a series of PB performances at 800m and 3000m.

There were Scottish Championship medals, too, over the longer 3k distance for those in the U17 and U20 age groups.

And when, around the outside of the track, the words Josh Kerr and Steve Cram keep being overheard with enthusiastic conversations about British Records, then the inspirational effect and bond from our elite to grassroots is not in dispute.

Many thanks must go as ever to our dedicated team of scottishathletics Officials for making the event happen and to the GAA team of volunteers and pace-makers.

In the U20 age group, there were title wins for Oliver Patton of Kilbarchan AAC and Olivia Clarke of Corstorphine AAC in the 3000m races. Oliver in fact won the Men’s A race over the 3k distance.

Taking silver in the Men’s was Fife AC’s Reiss Marshall with bronze for Oliver Macdonald of Giffnock North AC.

Taking silver in the Women’s U20 was Caitlyn Heggie of Inverness Harriers with bronze for Ruth Walsh of Giffnock North AC.

Our U17 champions on the night were Eilidh Dallas of Strathearn Harriers and James Alexander of Garscube Harriers.

Taking silver in the U17 Women’s category was Corri McGougan of Falkirk Vics with the bronze for Jessica Taylor of Edinburgh AC.

Taking silver in the U17 Men’s category was Angus Wilkinson of East Kilbride AC with the bronze for Alistair MacLean of Giffnock North AC.

The U20 Women’s medallists

In the top Women’s 800m race, there was a fine win for Hannah Cameron of Aberdeen.

A couple of weeks on from representing Scotland at Loughborough, Hannah had to take the race out in the absence of a pace-maker. She did so with forceful determination and duly ran inside the 2:06 time being asked by the GAA for a share of the prize-monay.

Cameron’s time was 2:05.40 with second place for Beth Ansell of Edinburgh AC in 2:07.37. Olivia Vareille of Falkirk Vics was third in 2:11.06.

In the top Men’s 800m race, Sam Brown made the pace and left the track for a last lap battle between the main contenders. Come the home straight and it was left to Jamie Phillips of Kilmarnock Harriers and Josh Mungin of Kilbarchan AAC to contest victory.

Jamie was to win that ultimatley with a superb time of 1:49.61 with Josh at 1:50.34. Jamie MacKinnon of Cambuslang Harriers was third in 1:51.08. The GAA prizpot for that one had been set at sub 1:51.00.

Ben Potrykus recently improved his 5000m PB by another ten seconds (to 13:38) and he was on pace duty in the main men’s 3000m race.

Ben stpped off with two laps to go and there was still a big group in contetntion at that stage.

Into the last lap and down the back straight a big move from Leo Freeland sparked a kick from Oliver Patton of Kilbarchan.

These two athletes were ahead into the home straight and chasing hard for the sub 8:10 prize.

U20 athlete Oliver, the Scotland pick in steeplechase recently in Loughborough, edged clear and he was home in a fine time of 8:06.46. Freeland, from Milton Keynes, was home in 8:06.78. Third place went to Finlay Ross-Davie as the Garscube Harrier clocked 8:10.74.

Stefanie Tucker and Hannah Anderson represented Scotland at Loughborough and were the top two female finishers over 3000m.

Cambuslang’s Stefanie came home in 9:21.69 and East Kilbride AC’s Hannah posted 9.22.50. Emily McNicol of Law and District won the Women’s only race in 9:46.40.