Central stay in top class
Success in Pentathlon Championships
Central AC were well represented at the recent Scottish Schools Pentathlon Championships with 11 youngsters taking on the five event challenge- seven of them tackling the pentathlon for the first time ever.
In Group C (under 14), Balfron High School’s Molly Cornes opened with a personal best in the 75m hurdles (13.10), equalled her pb high jump (1.52m) and threw 7.55m in the shot putt.
Run-up problems meant she only jumped 4.52 but a pb 800m (2:43.95) saw her end jusst outside the medals in fourth with 2533 points - good enough for her to be selected for the Scottish Schools Pentathlon squad.
Also in Group C were Lois Burch of Beaconhurst and Dunblane High School’s Becky Cumming. In the 75m hurdles, Lois ran 13,12 and set pbs in the high jump (1.40m) and long jump (4.11m) and also threw 5.85m in the before another pb in the 800m of 2.51.40 gave her 2112 for seventh.
Becky srtarted off with a 13.12 pb in the 75m hurdles, cleared 1.34m at high jump and set further pbs in shot (5.92m) long jump (4.39m) and 800m for a pb score of 1963 and eighth place.
Four Central AC members took part in the Group B (age 15-16) boys - Erik Escala (Dunblane High), Euan Smith (Dollar Academy), Daniel Bruce (Denny High) and Neil Casserly (St Modan’s High) with Erik, Euan and Neil debuting in the event.
Erik, Scottish Schools under 16 indoor shot putt gold medallist earlier this year, opened with a 10.93m throw with Euan and Neil also close to pbs with 8.83m and 8.07m respectively while Daniel threw a 6.81m pb,
In the hurdles, Euan ran 14.63, Erik and Neil ran 15.81 and 17.02 and Daniel managed 16.27. Next up was long jump where Euan set a big pb of 5.88m and Erik came close to his pb with 5.76m. Daniel, unfortunately, recorded three fouls and Neil had to pull out of the event due to a back injury and was unable to continue.
In the 200m Euan recorded another pb with 24.25 just ahead of Erik who was again close to a pb with 24.48. Daniel made up for his disappointment at long jump with a pb 26.38s.
This left them with just the 1500m to go and Daniel ran strongly all the way to record another pb (4.56.58), Euan (5.22.30) and Erik (5.37.34).
Euan finished on 2817 points for seventh just ahead of Erik on 2700 points for eighth whikle Daniel still managed a pb of 1934 for 12th despite rewgistering no long jump points.
The group D (under 14) girls pentathlon had another three athletes from Central AC with Louise Carroll (Balfron High), Megan Dunlop (McLaren High) and Catriona Kane (Dunblane High), who was moving up from the under 13 age group.
In the 75m hurdles, Louise clocked 13.30, Megan 15.98 and Catriona 17.99. There were pbs in the shot for Louise (7.10m) and Megan (6.14m) while Catriona managed 4.08m.
The high jump saw Catriona clear 1.07m then Megan manage another pb 1.22m. As the bar went up Louise came close to her pb clearing 1.34m then failing at 1.37m. In the long jump Louise jumped 3.78m while Catriona jumped 2.99m and Megan 2.66m. The last event, the 800m, Louise smash her previous best of 3.40.00 to run 2.50.73 while the inexperienced Catriona and Megan ran well for 2.57.09 and 3.12.00.
At the finish Louise finished in a respectable 10th place with 2044 points in her first ever pentathlon, Megan finished 19th with 1254 points and Catriona 20th with 1052 points.
McLaren High’s Jack Campbellh took on the group D boys pentathlon.
The events didn’t favour him with no javelin event where he has won numerous medals but he ran a pb 15.80s in the 80m hurdles, jumped 4.23m in the long jump and ran 29.66s in the 200m followed by another pb in the shot putt (7.64m).
He finished with 2.53.00 in the 800m for a pb final score of 1311 points for eighth place.