Zoey Clark lands the Eric Liddell Senior gold in the Women’s 100m final from Lois Garland and Lucy Fraser (photo by Bobby Gavin)
*This report subject to further checks, additions and amendments. Please not it is not intended as comprehensive but rather as capturing some of the highlights of the day.
Nick Percy swapped the Olympic flame for the Grangemouth refinery as backdrop for his latest Scottish title success.
A throw of 62.37m was the second best of his career in Scotland for the Paris 2024 Olympian.
And in a special moment at Grangemouth he received his gold medal from Alan Potts – the former scottishathletics President who presented Nick with his first Scottish championships medal some 15 years ago.
‘Alan was President way back then and had the big chain of office at the time,’ recalled Nick.
‘I was just a ytoung kid but I asked him if he would swap that chain for my medal. It became A running joke for year at medal presentations and it continued when Leslie Roy was in that role.
‘I met Alan early today when I arrived at Grangemouth but he was officiating in declarations. It was nice for him to hand over the gold.
‘With all the decompression required after Paris I am happy enough with my throwing today. I have fire in my belly for next season for sure but right now I do need to take a break and that’s the season ended for me now.’
Nick’s throw earned him a slice of our £3000 prize-pot and there was a further Olympic connection on the podium. Josh Kerr’s brother, former professional rugby player Jake, took a bronze only five weeks into his throwing career.
The 400m races had a special element this year. On the 100th anniversary of gold at the Paris 1924 Olympics, there was a commemorative Eric Liddell medal for winners and their coaches.
Jill Cherry took home one of those after surging to the line in a dramatic Women’s 400m final to post a big PB.
Silver medallist Georgina Adam and bronze medallist Zoey Clark, who had won the Women’s 100m, were definitely in the mix coming into the straight but VP-Glasgow’s Cherry took the victory in run of 53.26.
Zoey has won the 100m in 11.88 in an exciting final with Perth Strathtay’s Lois Garland only fiver hundredths of a second back at 11.73. Lucy Fraser of VP-Glasgow was third in 11.77.
The men’s final was good, too, as Krishawn Aiken won in 10.43 – the quickest time for a nubmer of years. Murray Fotheringham took the silver.
‘I’ve basically been injured since around the time fo the British Champs so this is a good way to end the season,’ said Kilbarchan AAC athlete Krishawn.
Rachel Callan has been injured for much of the past year with an ankle injury.
A couple of comeback races helped and a Season Best run took her to gold in the Women’s 400m hurdles final with 62.21 seconds. Bradley Francis won gold in the men’s race in that event.
Sarah Calvert of Livingston won a fine middle distance double a year ago over 800m and 1500m.
Sarah took the first step to a repeat with a win in the two-lap straight final at 2:07.15 with fellow medallists Hannah Cameron (Aberdeen AAC) and Beth Ansell (Edinbrugh AC) also due back on Sunday for the 1500m.
Luke Davidson won the Men’s 800m with the Inverness Harriers athlete delivering a fine performancve – after spending a number of weeks recently helping with Megan Keith‘s pre-Paris 2024 sessions.
The inclusive nature of these Champs is appreciated by many in our Para community.
And there was a great moment early on Saturday when Kirsty Souttar came home at the end of the Frame Running 100m to huge roars and applause from around the stadium – with Kirsty more often seen in the seated throws.
Dawn Russell was the first Senior champion crowned with an early start on Saturday in the field. The Kilbarchan AAC athlete won the Women’s javelin with 46.45m.
Henry Clarkson had to fly solo in the Men’s Triple Jump but he did so to good effect with a best of 15.93m that was significantly further than his title-winning distance 12 months ago (15.36m).
Team East Lothian’s Alister Mackay was another Scot to win in the field as he landed the pole vault gold.
Senior Scottish Champions
Women
Javelin: Dawn Russell (Kilbarchan AAC) 46.45m
High Jump: Hollie Smith (Kingston) 1.69m
Hammer: Katie Ord (VP Glasgow) 48.71m
Triple Jump: Silver Nwabuzor Glasgow Uni 11.79
400m Hurdles: Rachel Callan (Giffnock North AC) 62.12
400m: Jill Cherry (VP-Glasgow) 53.26
800m: Sarah Calvert (Livingston AC) 2:07.15
5000m: Stefanie Tucker (Cambuslang Harriers) 16:37.77
Men
Triple Jump: Henry Clarkson (Edinburgh Ac) 15.93m
Pole Vault: Alister Mackay (Team East Lothian) 4.35m
Shot: Angus Lockhart (Harrow AC) 15.72m
800m; Luke Davidson (Inverness Harriers) 1:54.51
100m: Krishawn Aiken (Kilbarchan AAC) 10.44
3000m Steeplechase: Michael Cameron (Edinburgh AC) 9:21.77
400m Hurdles: Bradley Francis (Edinburgh AC) 52.78
Photo by Bobby Gavin
There was plenty of exciting U17 Champs action and all covered across our live stream with broadcast partners Vinco Sport.
A large contingent from Athletics Ireland had travelled to Scotland and they made their presence felt at Grangemouth both at the podium and in their vocal support.
In the field, there was a fine triple jump performance from Matilda Brockley. After being called up for Scotland U20 duty next week, the Edinburgh AC athlete leapt beyond 12m for the first time with 12.07m.
Kishi Aremu is another headed for Manchester and the Livingston athlete won the U17 Women’s 100m in 11.83.
U17 Champions
Men
Shot: Theo Hanlon (Suncroft) 17,16m
Triple Jump: Andrew Lumsden (Elgin AAC) 12.92m
Discus: Rhian Mitchell (Kilmarnock Harriers) 44.13m
Pole Vault: Jamie Helander (Athletics Ireland) 4.40m
400m: Kyle Gibson (Aberdeen AAC) 50.35
800m: Josh Mungin (Kilbarchan AAC) 1:53.66
100m: Sean O’Donnell (Athletics Ireland) 10.88
Women
Javelin: Jessica Young (Cumbernauld AAC) 38.24m
High Jump: Anna Reid (Aberdeen AAC) 1.63m
Triple Jump: Matilda Brockley (Edinburgh AC) 12.08m
800m: Scarlett Wilson (Giffnock North Ac) 2:16.18
100m: Kishi Aremu (Livingston AC) 11.83
300m: Roisin Murray (Athletics Ireland) 40.26
Para
Frame Running 100m (mixed classification): Finlay Menzies (Livingston AC) 16.99
400m FR/WC Mixed: Finlay Menzies (Livingston AC) 77.66
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Tags:
Eric Liddell Senior Champs, Eric Liddell U17 Champs, Grangemouth
