Grangemouth revisited brings stadium rescue into focus and Jax return is a top redemption tale, too
By Peter Jardine
Note: Report subject to checking and additions. It is not intended to be comprehensive in terms of performances but rather seeks to give an overview with some highlights. Thanks.
‘Keep Grangemouth Working‘ is the slogan for an issue far bigger than track and field venues for athletics in Scotland – and was headline news again on radio early on Saturday morning.
But the mantra applied just the same for our 132nd Senior Championships against the familiar stadium backdrop.
This time last year it looked unlikely major events might return to Grangemouth with Falkirk Council having listed it among a series of properties under threat of closure.
Thankfully a rescue package emerged and Grangemouth Community Sports Trust were effectively our hosts once again.
If the saving of the stadium is an apt storyline then the action conjured up a redemption tale to relish, too.
Jax Thoirs, 32, returned to action after almost six years away from pole vaulting.
The comeback initially involved losing 20kg simply to be in shape to compete again.
And compete he most certainly did to clear 5.15m and win his fifth Scottish Senior title with an attempt at 5.32m – the Glasgow 2026 standard is 5.31m – offering further encouragement.
‘I stopped when Covid came along and I couldn’t take training in empty venues,’ said Jax.
‘I definitely enjoyed too much junk food but somehow last year when watching the Olympics I started to think about pole vault again.
‘I am really pleased with that as a comeback and now it is about putting in a solid winter of training and taking on an indoor season. It feels good to be back.’
Sophie Thomas had a brilliant weekend at Aberdeen with double sprint gold in the U20 Champs
The Dunfermline T and F athlete took that into Grangemouth and her 11.88 PB run in the heats was a portent for what followed in the Women’s 100m final.
In a tight race led initially by Kaya Slater, the GB U20 international from Falkirk Vics, Sophie powered through to win in 11.74.
‘Having Kaya in the race helped me because she made a really strong start,’ said Sophie.
‘I’ve managed to get alongside her and then ahead of her at about 80m. I’m thrilled to PB because I did so in Germany earlier this summer but it wasn’t legal. To get 11.88 and 11.74 today is really pleasing.’
Sophie Thomas smiles as she crosses the finishing line to win 100m gold
Nick Percy won his seventh title in eight years in the Men’s discus and his eighth in total. He’s now level with Angus McInroy and one more gold away from Sandy Smith’s record of nine between 1925 and 1934.
Nick threw 59.68m to land a share of the prize pot.
‘I love competing at the Scottish Senior Champs and it has become a big thing for my family,’ said Nick.
‘My cousin lives in Balfron so it was great to have them here today to watch me. I do like to get a share of the prize pot and keep up my record of winning that every year since Scottish Athletics started pitting it up.’
There was an inclusive feel to the event, too, with a series of Para athletes in action.
A number of medals were awarded in different classifications and it was great to see the likes of Cameron Thores, Joanna Robertson, Steven Stone and Erin Nisbet – and a few others – on the podium.
Aberdeen’s Hannah Cameron looked favourite for the Women’s 800m title and so it proved. Hannah, who reached the final at the UK Champs, pulled clear on the second lap to win from Sofia Vidak and Beth Ansell.
The men’s race was closer and delivered one of the stories of the day. Josh Mungin became the first U20 to win the Senior Men’s 800m title since 1977 – as the Kilbarchan AAC athlete won in 1:50.19 from Kane Elliott.
John Rodger spent much of the day presenting medals as our President but he was on the podium himself to receive a coach medal for Josh’s win.
‘I owe everything in athletes to John’s guidance,’ said the new 800m champion.
‘I’ve only been in the sport three or four years and I’ve already learned so much from him as my coach.
‘It was a big goal for this year to win the Senior title outdoors and replicate what I did indoors – so I am thrilled and it was a good race with Kane and the others.’
Josh Mungin celebrates his 800m success (photo by Bobby Gavin)
Krishawn Aiken won the Men’s final in the 100m in 10.69 seconds.
Visiting Jamaican athlete Kimberley Williams came up with 13.65m to win the Triple Jump – and claim a Championship Best Performance, too. Silver Nwabuzor was at 12.52m.
Bera Ajala leapt to 15.09m to win the Triple Jump gold to follow on from bronze at the UK Champs.
The 400m Hurdles finals took place shortly before 1pm. Bradley Francis was the clear winner at 53.52 but Mhairi Patience had to dip below 60 seconds to clock 59.71 to win from defending champion Rachel Callan.
Irenie Jane Theodorou was our first Senior champion of the weekend – wining the Women’s javelin with 47.08m. The Aberdeen AAC athlete is the first Cypriot to win gold at the Scottish Champs.
Bradley Francis wins gold in the 400m Hurdles (photo by Bobby Gavin)
Senior Scottish Champions
Women
Javelin: Irenie Jane Thedorou (Aberdeen AAC) 47.08m
High Jump: Laura Frawley (Nenagh Olympians) 1.63m
Hammer: Alice Barndale (North Shield) 60.20
Triple Jump: Kimberley Williams (Jamaica) 13.65m
400m Hurdles: Mhairi Patience (VP-Glasgow) 59.71
100m: Sophie Thomas (Dunfermline T and F) 11.74
400m: Lorne Kerr (VP-Glasgow) 55.09
800m: Hannah Cameron (Aberdeen AAC) 2:08.73
5000m: Kirsty Walker (Edinburgh AC) 16:30
Men
Triple Jump: Bera Ajala (Edinburgh AC) 15.09m
Pole Vault: Jax Thoirs (VP-Glasgow)
Discus: Nick Percy (Harrow) 59.68m
Shot: John Kelly (Finn Valley AC) 17.51m
800m: Josh Mungin (Kilbarchan AAC) 1:50.19
100m: Krishawn Aiken (Kilbarchan AAC) 10.69
3000m Steeplechase: Fraser Kelly (Dundee Hawkhill) 10:14.31
400m Hurdles: Bradley Francis (Edinburgh AC) 53.52
+++
There was some great competition at U17 level with a strong cohort from Ireland driving up the levels.
Freya Brown of Lasswade AAC claimed a Championship Best in the U17 Women’s 800m and Rhian Mitchell of Kilmarnock Harriers relished the challenge to land a throws double gold in shot and discus.
Holly Whittaker followed up U20 medals at Aberdeen last weekend with a strong run to win the U17 Women’s 100m final.
U17 Champions
Men
Shot: Rhian Mitchell (Kilmarnock Harriers) 16.70m
Triple Jump: Alex Jaworski (Athletics Ireland) 12.71
Discus: Rhian Mitchell (Kilmarnock Harriers) 44.06
Pole Vault: Nathan Mobbs (North Ayrshire AC) 4.35m
400m Hurdles: Arron Whelan (Athletics Ireland) 56.85
400m: AJ Campbell (Kilbarchan AAC) 48.75
800m: Charlie O’Neill (Athletics Ireland) 2:04.19
100m:Ben Thompson (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) 11.05
1500m Steeplechase: Patrick Duffy (Athletics Ireland) 4:34.79
Women
Javelin: Emer Purtill (Athletics Ireland) 43.26m
High Jump: Leanna Elliot (Cumbernauld AAC) 1.64m
Triple Jump: Gillian Allan (VP-Glasgow) 10.97
800m: Freya Brown (Lasswade AAC) 2:08.92 CBP
100m: Holly Whittaker (Aberdeen AAC) 11.88
300m: Carla Monachello (Kilmarnock Harriers) 39.51
300m Hurdles: Grace Maley (Whitemoss AAC) 43.34
Hammer: Sophie Robertson (Cumbernauld AAC) 56.84m
+++
U20 Women 5000m: Hania Czebreszuk (Aberdeen AAC) 18:18.31
++
Para (points system)
100m Ambulant Para Men: Steven Stone (Law and District AAC) 604
100m Ambulant Para Women: Erin Nisbet (Cumbernauld AAC)
400m Ambulant Para Men: Cameron Thores (Pitreavie AAC) 572
100m Frame Running Men: Christopher Jacquin (Corstorphine AAC) 690
100m Wheelchair Men: Luke Deighan (Red Star AC) 131
100m Frame Running Women: Julie McElroy (VP-Glasgow) 52
100m Wheelchair Women: Joanna Robertson (Aberdeen AAC) 254
400m Frame Running Men: Christopher Jacquin (Corstorphine AAC) 1109
400m Wheelchair: Luke Deighan (Red Star AC) 171
400m Frame Running Women: Julie McElroy (VP-Glasgow) 3
400m Frame Running Women: Joann Robertson (Aberdeen AAC) 349
+++
Tags: 4J Seniors and U17 Champs, Grangemouth
Latest Facebook update
Problem displaying Facebook posts. Backup cache in use.
Click to show error