4J National Track Relays are fun in the sun as Edinburgh AC celebrate

Sunday 11th September 2022

Edinburgh AC celebrate their Senior Women’s 4x100m golds – and there were two more team victories to follow (photos by Bobby Gavin)

Results

Sunshine and good conditions at Grangemouth brought the curtain down on our 4J Track and Field Season with a busy and enjoyable National Track Relays.

The event went ahead after consideration around the passing of Her Majesty the Queen and there were moments of respect from all in attendance at the start of both the morning and afternoons sessions.

And the over-riding vibe was a good one with hundreds of athletes of all ages relishing the team element as well as all the thrills (and spills) that comes with getting the baton round.

The strength of our club community was very much to the fore at Grangemouth with the spread of different vests on the podium encouraging – although Edinburgh AC took three Senior Women’s titles. Not a bad way to celebrate the return to Meadowbank!

It takes a significant collective contribution to stage championship events, of course, and the National Track Relays concluded a first full programme by scottishathletics since 2019 – with both 2020 (severely) and 2021 (delayed start to the championship events) affected by the global pandemic.

Ally Mitchell leads Kilmarnock Harriers home in the Men’s 4x100m final

‘There is a huge team effort involved in putting together a track and field championship season,’ said Alasdhair Love, our Head of Competitions.

‘Obviously 2020 was extremely problematic although we did manage smaller scale, non-championships events that summer mainly at Meadowmill.

‘But there were Covid restrictions and issues even at the start of the 2021 summer and we were not able to host three District and National Open events.

‘So to be then deliver everything this summer has been great for the sport and we have had very good numbers in terms of entries.

‘I want to thank the scottishathletics staff, venue operators, our Officials and volunteers for helping us to stage our events. We have been to a number of venues for championship events, including the new Regional Performance Centre in Dundee.

‘We also say a huge thank you to athletes and their coaches as well as our clubs. It was great to see a big turnout at Grangemouth for the National Track Relays in the sunshine on Saturday. There was a good atmosphere around the stadium throughout the day.

‘We are grateful to our track and field sponsors, 4J Studios, too, for their continued support. Their backing this year helped us in particular around live stream coverage (Aberdeen and Grangemouth), the prize pot at Seniors and for equipment such as a new presentation gazebo.’

Shettleston’s Lucky Eduwu brings home the baton as they take golds in the Men’s 4x100m final at Grangemouth (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Podium double for Law and District AAC in the U17 Women’s 4x100m with Giffnock North taking silvers

At Senior level, the Men’s 4x100m golds went the way of Kilmarnock thanks to the efforts of their final quartet: Josh Smith, Lewis Tidy, Andrew Baird and Ally Mitchell.

It was a close finish with Killie at 42.96 and silver medallists Edinburgh AC home in 43.07. VP-Glasgow landed the bronze medals.

The Women’s final had drama involved as Edinburgh AC took the golds with 48.14 thanks to the efforts of Peace Okaka, Lulu MacLeod, Katie Purves and Stacey Downie.

Dundee Hawkhill Harriers took home silvers with 48.36 and Law and District AAC were third (49.912) with Pitreavie AAC left to rue errors on their final changeover.

And Edinburgh AC made it a double when they led home the Women’s 4x400m final. Dundee had won in 2021 but had to settle for silvers this time with Law and District taking bronze medals.

Edinburgh AC’s winning team was Katie Johnson, Katie Purves, Stacey Downie and Anise Macaulay Orr as they closed in 3:55.58 with Dundee at 4:02.81 and Law at 4:06.16.

Kilbarchan AAC won the 4x400m golds on their home track at Linwood last year – and repeated the success at Grangemouth.

Anchor runner Krishawn Aiken had plenty ground to make up but brought it home in 3:21.91 to complement the runs by Stephen Johnston, Michael Cairns and Connor Henderson.

Dundee Hawkhill, who led at one stage, again had to accept silvers in 3:22.83 with the bronze medals bound for Falkirk Victoria Harriers at 3:23.52.

Edinburgh made it three Senior titles with a win in the 3x800m race at7:00.25. The men’s 3x800m golds went to home club Falkirk Victoria Harriers as they clocked 5:54.16.

In the younger ages, there was some terrific action, great teamwork and some very tight finishes.

Falkirk Victoria Harriers posted a Championship Best Performance in the U15 Boys 3 x800m race with 6:21.77.

Many thanks to all the athletes who raced and to coaches and team managers.