Mackay and Tindle roll back the years at the Emirates . . . and three U20 Records fall, too

Saturday 24th January 2026

Cameron Tindle wins the Men’s 60m final (photo by Bobby Gavin)

*This is a quick report, subject to corrections. We will add some U18 Champs details on Sunday. Thanks for your patience.

By Peter Jardine, Head of Communications

Start-lists (becomes Live Results)

The 60m sprint and the 1500m final are obviously at opposite ends of the distance spectrum when it comes to any 4J Senior Scottish Champs.

But, in the Men’s events in front of a busy Emirates Arena, two stories unfolded via two gold medallists with some parallel lines.

Cameron Tindle rolled back the years to take the 60m crown for the first time in his career almost a decade after promising signs in his teens by the Borders sprinter.

And Stephen Mackay, who turns 34 in March, used his experience to great effect to win an exciting 1500m final from Josh Mungin of Kilbarchan AAC.

Two more highlights arrived via the short track on the Emirates infield.

Holly Whittaker claimed a Scottish U20 Record in the sprint hurdles with her 8.37 run and Sophie Thomas did likewise with 7.38 for silver in the Senior Women’s 60m final – won by GB international Alyson Bell.

And Sophie ended the afternoon with the Senior 200m title – and another Scottish U20 Record with a run of 23.64 for victory. Sophie won that race by one hundredth from Lucy Fraser (23.65). Bradley Francis won the Men’s 200m in 21.48.

Sophie Thomas on way to 60m U20 Record as Alyson Bell wins Senior gold (photo by Bobby Gavin)

‘I’ve two younger brothers competing here today Craig and Scott, and raced Scott in the semi-finals, so it is a good family effort,’ said Cameron, who is in the RAF.

‘To be honest I am back in the sport because of their persuasion. They have kept telling me I was wasting my talent by not sprinting.

‘So it is good to come here again and improve my time from the National Open and win the final. I won a bronze medal once when Richard Kilty (2016) was here guesting.’

Inverness Harrier Stephen made the trip south from the Highlands worthwhile with gold baggage for the return journey.

‘It is important for the sport that people compete as long as you can and it definitely helps if you feel you can be competitive,’ he said.

‘I won an 800m gold indoors but I think that is three years ago now. I had an idea of what Josh was capable of so when he made the break with two laps to go I just felt I had to hang on. I always thought something might happen on the home straight.’

Mackay, who reflected on being 51^st in the Lindsays Short Course XC only a couple of months ago, won in 4:02.13 from Mungin’s 4:02.41.

Aberdeen AAC athlete Carolyn Cameron won the Women’s 1500m in 4:44.28.

Stephen Mackay en route to Men’s 1500m gold (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Alyson Bell took the Women’s 60m gold in 7.35. That race saw Sophie Thomas clock 7.38 to push the GB international very close.

‘That was a great run by Sophie and I could feel her right there close to me in the race,’ said Alyson.

‘I am happy with 7.35 seconds at this stage and now I am really looking forward to the EAP Glasgow meet.’

Edinburgh AC’s Calum Henderson won the men’s long jump for his first Senior title as Kilbarchan’s Scott Connal took hurdles gold for the third time. Matthew Tait won the Men’s High Jump.

The shot put titles were claimed by Falkirk Victoria Harriers athlete Kyle Randalls, with 15.97m, and by Cumbernauld AAC athlete Amy Kennedy, with 14.72m.

Nikki Manson’s final round 6.05m took her to Women’s Long Jump gold in a close contest with Holly Whittaker and Hannah Wallace.

Douglas Knox in U18 Long Jump action – winning gold with PB leap of 7.06m

The Men’s 400m final developed into a stirring battle between Ben Heron and Calum Mackenzie over the second lap.

North Ayrshire AC athlete Ben had the edge at the bell and ran strongly to hold off the challenge from his Cumbernauld AAC rival – clocking 47.91 to Calum’s 48.40.

Visiting Gateshead athlete Jazmine Moss won the Women’s two-lap final from Lorne Kerr of VP-Glasgow. Jazmine’s 53.03 run was a Championship Best, eclipsing a mark held by Jenny Meadows.

Aberdeen athlete Katherine Fowler won the Women’s High Jump (1.67m) after a jump off with Maeve Fleming. Charis Crawford won the Senior Women’s Pole Vault with 3.75 (third best U20 all-time). The Men’s pole vault also went to a jump off, with Reuben Nairne the winner at 4.56m (from Tom Chandler).

In the Women’s Triple Jump, gold medallist Reese Robinson claimed a Welsh Indoor Record at 12.95m. Silver Nyabazor leapt to a PB of 12.58m for third. Bera Ajala won the Men’s in 14.73m.

Sofia Vidak made her intention very clear in the Women’s 800m and the Falkirk athlete duly won in 2:07.39. Livingston’s Josh Scott won the men’s in 1:52.09.