Over the course of the weekend EKAC had a number of athletes involved in the Scottish Age Group Indoor Championships. These championships allowed the EKAC athletes to go head to head with the best athletes the country (and England and Ireland) had to offer. Not only is this an invaluable experience for the athletes, but it also allows their coaches to assess how well all the hard work over the winter has paid off. Going by some of the results the hard work seems to be paying off! Some notable performances over the two days:
Greg Kelly won the silver medal in the under-16 60m in a new PB time of 7.48 seconds, only finishing behind the record breaking Michael Olsen of Edinburgh AC. Greg (14) also finished fourth in the 200m in a time of 24.16, just outside the PB of 24.05 he set at the Scottish Schools Indoor Championships. Greg also plays football for Westwood Rovers, who are in the last four of the Scottish Cup for their age group.
Callum Field made the step up to 400m and won a silver in the under-16s in a time of 54.64 seconds, a good performance by the 14-year-old after a slightly interrupted preparation. Callum has had a good winter and recorded a PB time of 54.53 seconds in January after reaching the finals and picking up prize money in the youths' 60m and 90m races at the historic New Year meeting at Musselburgh racecourse.
Shannon McMahon (17) is one of EKAC's unsung heroes and she won her seventh medal at Scottish Schools / Scottish Age Group level with a battling bronze in the 200m at under-20 level. Shannon is looking to move up to longer distances but found she had enough speed in her legs to record 26.91 seconds for third place, an indoor PB.
Nicole Sharpe (14) made the semi-finals of both the under-16 60m and 200m, equalling her PB of 8.60 in the 60m. Her time of 27.98 in the 200m was just behind her PB mark of 27.58 set at the Scottish Schools Indoor Championships, where she again reached the semis.
Aidan Gilbride (16) Aidan won his 800m heat in a time of 2:00.13 to qualify for final. In the final he was in contention with two others around the last bend for a shot at the medals unfortunately after a little barging ensued (which Aidan bore the brunt of) he finished in 4th place in a time of 1:59.42, just ½ second off his PB.
Two former EKAC members who train with the EK sprint squad dominated the 60m for under-20 women. Arlene Barr has had a breakthrough winter and recorded a PB of 7.84 seconds in her heat before winning the final in 7.88 from Laura McCracken, who finished second in 8.01.
Another athlete who has started training with the EK endurance squad (Heather Addison) picked up a silver medal in the 1500m final.
Alisha Montgomery and Chloe Mulligan also ran well over the 60m and 200m, a week after Chloe had
set a new 200m pb of 28.19 at the scottish schools the week before. Mixing it up with the country’s best was good preperation for their summer season.
Ryan Clydesdale also competed in the 200m and set a new PB of 28.00.
The club’s junior section where taking their first footsteps into national competition. Competing in the under 14 age group to gain experience at national level which will stand them in good stead for future national competitions.
Over the 60m and 200m indoor PB’s where set left, right and centre by: Owen Selfridge, Josh Haughey, Lara Brown, Jessica Hagan.
Over the 800m more indoor PB’s set by Sophie Forsyth (2 mins 56 seconds) and Thomas McCourt (2 mins 47 seconds) whilst Calum Hopkins also had a solid run over the 800m.
Next up for East Kilbride’s athletes is the Scottish National Cross Country Championships on Saturday the 22nd of February. These championships will have a special feel about them as EKAC’s greatest cross country runner; Alan Partridge (64) will be lining up alongside the senior men’s team.
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