Young Athletes League 1

The first Young Athletes League Meeting was on Sunday at Wishaw. At times it was sunny and at times it was rainy but it was always windy which affected the times. As well as that, it was the Bank holiday weekend and the numbers competing were so small that in the Under 17 hurdles there was only one competitor when there could have been 16! Every club was seriously short of competitors. Our youngsters all did well. Not all results were available on the day and in any case that is not the job of the blog.

The first pb of the afternoon was from Peter Bowman who recorded 2:06.6 for the 800 metres after a very competitive race. The first, second and fourth 200 metres splits were easily on track for two minutes but he had a wee sleep on the third 200 and once he gets that right he will have the barrier beaten. The best debut run was by Connor Ewing who ran in his first ever track 1500 metres. Under 13 Connor started in a very cautious fashion before picking up the pace and finishing very positively in 5:34. The more experienced Tony Dolan had a good run to finish in 5:13. Connor Shields also set a pb, this time in the Long Jump where he cleared 4:08 metres to finish fifth in a very close competition.

In the girls events it was good to see many returning faces - the Nicholson twins from Boclair Academy for a start with Gillian racing to 15.8 seconds in the 100 metres and Diane being timed at 3:07.4 in the 800. Roisin McShea who was unfortunate not to be given one of her stronger events at 800 and 1500 nevertheless had a good day in the 75 metres where she ran 12.9 seconds. Mirren Wright had a pb in the 1500 metres when she ran 5:38.6. Under 13 Rachel Busby had a long wait for her 1200 metres but when it came she ran well to be third finisher in 4:40.2 - just outside the club record for the event.

The truth is that they all had a good day with athletes like Lewis Wood, Keir Martin, Lauren Butler, Kirsty Kelly, Kirsty Alexander, David Newton (with a good 800 in 2:42.2 - just six seconds in front of Connor Shields) and Mark Busby all doing their part.

It was a good day and results will appear on the Results page as soon as they become available. It should not however be forgotten that Donald Macleod and Phil Dolan as well as all the parents worked hard to make it take place. Next time with all the missing athletes available it will be even better.