All in a Sunday’s athletics: 4J Seniors and U17 Champs deliver drama and excitement

Sunday 24th August 2025

Photos by Bobby Gavin

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.

Full list of medallists to be added on Monday. And one or two other bits angles we may develop. Your support and patience appreciated.

By Peter Jardine

Gold medal doubles, Olympians trading times in the sprint hurdles, and endurance track titles only decided with recourse to photo finish.

Not bad value for money for your £4 (online) entry fee for the 4J Senior and U17 Champs at Grangemouth. Even if we say so ourselves.

The old place still generates a pretty loud atmosphere at times and spectators had the further enjoyment of watching developing young athletes at U17 level and some Scottish U20 winners of Senior titles, as well as inclusive athletics with Para events.

Add a British Record at U17 by Holly Whittaker and a new Championship Best for an Olympian from the Bahamas – Charisma Taylor – 13.00 in the Women’s 100m Hurdles – and you should have a decentoverview of Sunday’s happenings.

Right towards the very end of the programme, Adam Brown won the Men’s 1500m and then shed a few tears at becoming a Scottish champion for the first time in his career – after 13 years in the sport.

Hearing about that ‘value’ hearing placed on a Scottish Championship was heartening after a hectic couple of days.

On our regular #SALtogether theme, we had Long Jump champion Hannah Wallace thanking Officials for their help. To be expected, perhaps, given her mum Donna spent the comp raking the sandpit between jumps . . .

Dean Patterson and Krishawn Aiken contest 200m gold

The 200m finals delivered exciting races and two U20 winners at Senior level.

First of all, Sophie Thomas completed her sprint double after 100m success the previous day. And it was another PB for the Dunfermline T and F athlete as she clocked 23.86 to win from Lucy Fraser and Taylah Paterson.

Then Dean Patterson had just enough finishing speed to edge beyond Krishawn Aiken, who had won the 100m. Dean, coached by David Watson, clocked 21.28 seconds to successfully defend the title he won here a year ago.

The bronze medallist was Harris Mackie, the Pitreavie AAC athlete whose dad Iain knew a thing or two about top class sprinting. Harris is another U20 athlete developing well with that being a theme over the weekend.

Hannah Wallace

Hannah won the Women’s Long Jump final on a day when all three medallists went beyond 6.00m. The Cumbernauld AAC athlete leapt to 6.16m.

‘My mum Donna is an Official and has been doing that since I started in the sport,’ said Hannah.

‘She wants to contribute and just is not the type to sit in the stand and watch. I like competing at Grangemouth as often people jump far here and I am happy with gold.’

Stephen Mackenzie came up with 7.88m to win the Men’s Long Jump and defend his title. The Edinburgh AC athlete thus won a share of our prize-money. Matthew Tait won the Men’s High Jump.

In Para events, there were Seated Discus Throws golds for Graham Condie F32 and Kirsty Soutar F71 in different classifications via the points system.

Adam Donnachie was another landing medals after the action in the seated throws. Law and District AAC athlete Liam Nolan won F20 hammer gold.

Hannah Cameron completed a memorable 800m and 1500m double on Sunday.

In a straight final, three athletes were clear and contesting the medals with Beth Ansell leading the way down the home straight. Cameron fought hard, however, and took gold with 4:17.92 to Ansell’s 4:17.92. Jenny Selman took bronze on 4:20.20.

‘I wasn’t sure but I had an inkling on the line that I may have won it,’ said Hannah.

‘I looked at the clock and knew I had a PB whatever the photo finish decision. I looked over at my boyfriend and my coaches (Nichola Crawford and Lewis Walker) and they were all smiling so I took that as a good sign.

‘It was faster than I thought it would be and I’m delighted to get gold because I have had two bronze medals in this 1500m final in the past.’

The men’s 5000m boiled up to a 100m sprint finish after three miles.

Angus Smith of Corstorphine AAC won the gold as he headed Ben Potrykus of Inverclyde AC and Gavin Smith of Cambuslang Harriers. Angus clocked 14:48.78 to Ben’s 14:48.99.

Kirsty Law is in with the bricks at Grangemouth, so to speak, and she claimed Women’s discus title No 16 on this year’s visit.

‘I was hanging on for this a wee bit with back issues but always want to do the Scottish Champs,’ after 51.67m. ‘That’s my season over now.’

East Kilbride AC athlete Greg Kelly has a 200m title to his name from four years ago. A switch to 400m is starting to pay a dividend, however, and he won gold in 47.16 in an exciting final.

‘I was always being told to move up to 400m by people and I probably resisted it a wee bit. But I have made that move now and it feels like things are starting to click for me.’

Scott Connal won the men’s sprint hurdles.

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Freya Brown had quite a weekend in the U17 Champs.

The Lasswade AC athlete broke the championship best in the U17 Women’s 800m on Saturday.

And Freya returned on Sunday to make it a double as she won the 1500m again with the CBP performance. Her run of 4:25.95 took down the mark by around four seconds.

Rhian Mitchell added hammer bronze to his two golds in the throws on Saturday.

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Tags: 4J Senior and U17 Champs, Grangemouth