Sweeney takes 3,000m honours at Loughborough

Perth Strathtay Harrier Sol Sweeney excelled for Scotland in the 3,000m at the 60th Loughborough International at the Paula Radcliffe Stadium yesterday.

British Universities champion Mahamed Mahamed took up the running in the early stages but it was Sweeney who looked most comfortable as the race entered the final stages.

At the bell for the last lap England’s Kieran Wood made his bid but the Perth athlete merely bided his time before taking off on the back straight to finish 30 metres clear in eight minutes, 06.89 seconds – a fraction outside of his personal best 8:06 from indoors last February.

GB internationalist Jess Judd was the class act for Loughborough, winning the 3,000m in nine minutes 07 seconds.

Fife AC’s Stephie Pennycook represented Scotland in the 3,000m and finished 10th in 9:43.02.

Kilbarchan athlete Gemma Reekie won the 1,500m for Scotland in 4:11.96.

Dundee Hawkhill’s Declan Gall had a tough task representing GB Juniors against top senior opposition.

Gall was seventh in the 400m hurdles in 53.03 seconds as English winner Seb Roger clocked 49.80 seconds.

Scotland’s Jack Lawrie was fourth in 51.26.

Falkirk Vics. Grant Plenderleith won the 400m in a personal best 46.60 seconds, shading Welsh athlete Owen Smith by a mere threehundredths of a second.

Top points also came from Beth Dobbin, a surprise winner of the 200m in 23.14.

Earlier Scotland got off to a flying start in the opening event as Commonwealth medallist Mark Dry – the Scotland captain – launched the hammer to a winning 72.35m.

Kirsty Law won the discus after a throw of 54.14m. Kirsten McAslan was another Scottish winner – but representing Loughborough University – in the 400m hurdles and came home in 59.01 seconds.