Aiden’s impact in the championships
Central athlete’s East District success
Aidan Thompson was Central AC’s star performer at the East District Championships with a superb golden double in the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase last weekend.
The 20 year-old Stirling University student crossed the line first in in the 1500m in 4:03.29 with temamate Matthew Sutherland in third in 4:14.50.
Aidan then returned to take on the 3000m steeplechase on Saturday, winning the gold in 9:37.31 from Central’s Michael Wright who finished in 9:43.13.
Central ACs top senior field event athlete Peter Muirhead was third in the long jump with 7.11m.
The club was well represented in the 200m event. Michael Currie was fourth in the 200m in a personal best of 22.78 and he was joined in the field by stalwarts Cameron Smith (24.67) and Ian McDonald (25.60).
In the Under 20s, Catriona Laing dominated the 400m event. The 17 year-old led from the blocks to take gold in a season’s best 58.42. Madeleine Woods was fifth in a PB of 62.31.
Lauren McCulloch was third in the 800m in an SB 2:23.18 while she also recorded an SB in the 1500m (5:04.75) for seventh.
Central’s Under 17s won a total of nine medals. Emma Mailer set a PB of 45.15 to win the 300m hurdles from team-mate Katie Sharkey in 46.01. She went on to add a bronze in the 300m, running 41.68 ahead of Elizabeth Thompson who was fifth in 42.55. Katie also went on to add another medal with silver in the 80m hurdles in an SB 11.97.
There was another Central 1-2 in the pole vault as Matt Chandler took gold in 3.80m ahead of Matthew Meredith who won silver.
Rachel Methven won silver in the shot (9.53m) and bronze in the discus (23.09m); Anna Cameron added bronze in the long jump with 4.96m having earlier finished fourth in the 100m with 13.27 and Lucy Smith set a PB in her new triple jump event with 9.92m for fifth.
Skye Henderson set an SB 2:26.04 for sixth in the 800m and Rosie Eckersley was sevnth in the 1500m with 5:04.38.
Foutr more medals came from the Under 15s. Coirilidh Cook dominated the 75m hurdles taking gold in a PB 11.76s and Lewis Dow was also dominant in the 800mm winning by five seconds in 2:05.90.
Daniel Bruce won his first ever district medals with a bronze double in the long jump (PB of 4.79m) and 80m hurdles (13.59) while Shona McLay won bronze in the 300m (43.1).
Othres taking part were: Thomas Woods (6th, long jump 4.02m and 2:30.40 in the 800m); Naomi Howlieson (8th, high jump 1.29m and SB 800m of 2:45.97); Rosanna Savoury (semis 200m in 28.79 and semis of 100m in 13.96); Eilidh MacKenzie (PBs in 300m - 47.27 and 100m - 14.86).
Central’s under 13s were mainly tasting championship action for the first time and were rewarded with many personal bests. The girls 800m saw four Central athletes competing, all setting best times - Amy Cully was sixth in 2:40.31; Anna MacKinnon was second in the B race for 8th overall in 2:47.69 followed by Brogan McMillan who was third in the B race with 2:48.20 and Ellie Ross fifth in the B race with 2:54.54.
Curtis Dennison was sixth in the 100m final with SB 14.49 having set a PB in the 200m with 29.54 earlier. He then added another PB in the long jump (3.95m) for eighth .
The chances of personal bests in the sprints was reduced by strong headwinds but Lucy Hensman (200m, 34.00), Marissa Welsh (200m, 36.51) and Megan Dunlop (100m 15.36) all performed well.