Central athletes star at national schools event
Grangemouth Stadium hosted the Scottish Schools Athletics Championships with Central AC youngsters donning school vests instead of their yellow and blue club colurs,
In the 17 and over age group A, it was - for many - their final appearance for their school before leaving.
This included 18 year-old Tom Graham-Marr, competing in the 1500m for Stirling High, who was still chasing his first medal after six years of appearances at Scottish schools events.
His wait finally came to an end when he ran an excellent personal best 4:15.76 to finish third and step up on to the podium for a bronze medal.
Dollar Academy pair Emma Mailer and Ben MacMillan are no strangers to medals after numerous wins between them. Emma was pleased to win in the 400m hurdles after running a controlled race to take gold.
Ben was in the 3000m and found himself in the leading group in a tactical race. He was well placed when the pace quickened in the final lap and while he was just outrun in the final sprint finish he still managed to take a fine silver medal with a time of 8:57.54.
Elizabeth Thompson signed off her Balfron High career on a high note as she took bronze in the 400m. And Euan Smith (Dollar Academy) was on form in the 200m as he set an impressive pb 23.03 for sixth.
Coirilidh Cook and Erik Escala and were on top form in the 1516 age group B which had the added incentive of international selection after the event.
Balfron High School’s Coirilidh has won numerous Scottish titles and had already won gold in her school’s relay team a week earlier. However she was looking for her first individual title in the under 17 age group when she took on the 80m hurdles.
She is unbeaten over hurdles this season and after comfortably qualifying through her heat she lined up in the final and set off fast. She led from the start and managed to hold on to take the gold in 12.01. Coirilidh later took part in the long jump placing a respectable sixth with a pb 5.17m.
Multi-eventer Erik Escala (Dunblane high) showed his versatility as he first took on the pole vault event. The 16 yearold has been making steady progress at a relatively new event for him and made another big improvement as he took his personal best from 3.30m to an excellent clearance of 3.55m to take the bronze medal.
He was not finished there though and added a silver in the shot with a pb 12.44m.
Coirilidh and Erik have now been chosen to represent Scotland at the schools’ track and field international in Swansea next month where they will face Wales, Ireland and England.
Also competing wwre Shona McLay (Stirling High) - fifth in 100m final in 13.26; Lois Burch (McLaren High) - seventh in 80m hurdles final; Grace Tindall (Alva Academy) - eighth in 3000m in pb 11:08.29 and pb in 800m with 2:28.29; Molly Cornes (Balfrom High) - sixth in the high jump with 1.50m; Daniel Ferguson (Lornshill Academy) - seventh in the 100m hurdles with 15.14 after running 12.18 in the 100m; Jack Haughton (Dunblane High) 100m semis with 11.92 in his heat; Lucy More (McLaren High) just missed out on a semi final place in the girls 100m with 13.89s then ran 27.99s in the 200m.
Aidan Grevemberg (Balfron High) pulled up with a hamstring injury in the 100m crossing the line in 12.15. This was still enough to progress but he was unfortunately unable to continue after his injury.
● In Friday’s Observer there will be a report on the group C (age 14) and group D (under 14) categories.