Brilliant Ben lifts bronze and breaks club’s under 20 record
Central AC had three under 20 athletes competing - all of whom are experienced championship performers with Scottish titles and internationals vests on their CVs.
Ben MacMillan was stepping up to the under 20 age group and 3000m distance after winning the Scottish indoor under 17 1500m title last year.
The Scottish 3000m championships were held separately at a British Milers Club event recently and Ben found himself up against European Youth 1500m Champion Kane Elliot of Falkirk.
Ben stuck to the task though and while he was unable to keep up with Kane, Ben went round the 15 laps in 8:38.16 to win an excellent bronze medal.
He was over the moon with his performance as his time knocked half a minute off his personal best and broke the club under 20 record. Afterwards he said:“I went into the race not
expecting anything. I just wanted a pb as first time racing as an under 20, was extremely pleased with my time and the medal was the icing on the cake.”
Elizabeth Thompson was returning to defend the Scottish junior 400m title she won last year and also celebrating her 17th birthday. She looked comfortable in her heat as she cruised through in 60.04 to book her place in the final.
However in the final, after a fast paced first lap she found herself fourth at the break from lanes. She fought hard in lap two but was unable to force her way past the third placed athlete into the medals and had to settle for fourth in 58.93s.
Decathlete Matt Chandler was also just out of the medals in the high jump. Matt was clear at every height up to 1.88m however with three other athletes left in, he required a new personal best 1.93m to get on the podium. He had some good attempts but also had to settle for fourth place.
The fourth places will be frustrating for Elizabeth and Matt relative to their own high standards however they are still excellent performances.