Nick silver as Scots make finals but Alisha fall concern

Saturday 8th July 2023

Discus thrower Nick Percy claimed the first Scottish medal of the 2023 UK Champs before an appalling thunder-storm left a cloud over Alisha Rees.

Jemma Reekie was among a string of athletes to progress to finals in an exciting day at the Manchester Regional Arena.

Scots will fight out those finals – and hopefully podium places, too – on Sunday but on Saturday evening there was anxiety for Women’s 100m finalist Rees.

The Men’s 100m final went ahead in the midst of the rain and then the women, after a significant delay, were asked to take to the track.

Alisha as it transpired suffered a painful fall as the Edinburgh AC athlete sought to repeat or better her seventh place in last year’s final.

Late on Saturday night, with medical assessments on-going, the word to scottishathletics was that hopefully the 24-year-old’s injuries are not as bad as feared or looked to those watching at home or in the stadium

Nick was second in the discus competition as he lost out by 42 cm to Lawrence Okoye. Nick threw a best of 61.26m.

‘I wanted to try and win my sixth British title but it wasn’t my best series of throws – I don’t think there is one there I am happy with,’ said Nick.

‘I’m on the podium again and I am always proud to do that for Scotland, my club, my coach and my family but this time I have to accept silver.’

Two Scottish athletes will contest the Women’s 400m final on Sunday. Nicole Yeargin and Carys McAulay had to negotiate a tough qualifying system – with only the top two assured of places.

Carys took second in her race in 53.14 and Nicole relied on her 52.09 time in third in her race to safely progress from the non-automatic slots.

In the Women’s 1500m, there was also a strong show by the Scots as Eloise Walker (Edinburgh AC), Laura Muir (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) and Jenny Selman (Fife AC) made the final.

Neil Gourley will carry Scottish hopes in the men’s 1500m Sunday showdown.

The Men’s 800m heats were stacked. And the qualification system of only two automatic qualifiers to go through ensured some big names would fall.

That’s what happened but Josh Kerr was not among them as he produced a terrific kick over the final 200m to cruise through almost alongside race winner Daniel Rowden.

Guy Learmonth had sought to get in touch with the top two but had to settle for fourth place and missed out.

The process was the same in the Women’s 800m and there were solid performances from Hannah Cameron and Hannah Taylor (Aberdeen AAC) and Leah Keisler (Law and District AAC) without making progress to the final.

Jemma Reekie, for her part, led from gun to tape to win the final heat in very impressive style.

‘I am winning races again and I am healthy and happy at the moment,’ said Jemma.

‘When I come to the track I love to try and win and I think last season my confidence was knocked because I’d had glandular fever issues and knew myself I didn’t have the bank of fitness and training I wanted.

Krishawn Aiken and Adam Clayton are in this image from the Men’s 100m heats (photo by British Athletics via Getty Images)

The men’s 100m semi-finals featured three Scots after solid heat performances by Adam Thomas, Adam Clayton and Krishawn Aiken.

Sarah Malone reached the semi-final stage in the Women’s event. Alisha Rees joined her there via seeding system bye and a second place in her semi took Alish through to that fateful final.

Adam Thomas took third in his semi at 10.35 and just missed out on the final. Adam Clayton was fifth in his race at 10.39 and Krishawn Aiken was sixth in that race (10.56).

In the Men’s 400m Hurdles, Jack Lawrie made sure of his top two place to safely progress to the final with a run of 51.00.

In the field, Alessandro Schenini unfortunately had to withdraw from the long jump after an injury in the second round. Alessandro had opened with SB 7.47m in the first round.

In the Women’s High Jump, Aberdeen AAC athlete Allie Routledge cleared a best height of 1.73m.