Oban area Sports Hall Athletics
THE SPORTS Hall Athletics competition for the Oban area was held at Atlantis Leisure last Wednesday evening.
This event was the third local area competition to be held in Argyll this winter. The series of competitions is promoted by Mid Argyll Athletic Club.
After four hours of competition it was Rockfield and Park schools dominating in the boys competition and in the girls events St Columba’s, Park and Lochnell were the overall winners.
There was one new Argyll age record. It was in the under 9 girls contest with Isla Muir from Rockfield improving the javelin record by 0.25m with a 13.5m winning throw.
One athlete close to a record was the boys’ under 11 champion George Pagan from Rockfield who recorded a time of 24.6 in the two-lap race only 0.3 of a second slower than the Argyll age record set by Ben Coates in 2010. George also won the four-lap race and the standing triple jump with a jump of 6.07m.
Two boys shared the runner-up spot with Jacques Coates from Park winning the long jump and James Muir from Rockfield successful in the speed bounce and javelin in which he threw an impressive 19m.
Alexandra Harris, from Park, was the under 7 champion ahead of another Park girl, Quinn MacKechnie. Alexandra’s effort of 1.59m in the standing long jump was close to the Argyll age record.
Megan Carre from Lochnell was a clear winner in the under 9 contest thanks to wins in the two-lap and four-lap races, triple jump and speed bounce. Runner-up Zara MacLeod from Achaleven won the long jump and Isla Muir won the javelin with a record throw.
Mia Campbell, from St Columba’s, was the under 11 champion winning five events outright and shared first place in the high jump with runner-up Emma Cullen from Rockfield and Ellie Johnstone from Park. Ellie won the triple jump with a 5.31m leap.
The entry in the older age groups was disappointing but there was still close competition with Edie Elliot winning the under 13s and Amy Gibson from Bunessan the under 15 champion.
Ciaran Johnstone from Park was the boys’ under 7 champion, only a few points ahead of Riley Anderson from Rockfield and Ruaridh MacKechnie from Park. Young Riley produced the top individual performance in this age category, winning the four-lap will go a long way to ensuring young players are given oppor- race in 67.3 seconds. Marco Macgregor, Rockfield, won the under 9s contest by one point ahead of Conan Burns from St Columba’s. Marco won the two-lap and the long and triple jumps. Conan won the javelin and in the same age group Alfie Macintyre, Rockfield, won the four-lap race and Lucas MacLeod from Achaleven won the javelin with a 13m throw.
Finlay MacLean won a close contest in the under 13s, only one point ahead of Morgan Gemmell who was one point ahead of Ewan Dowd from Park primary.
Many of the athletes taking part qualify to take part in the Argyll final at Atlantis Leisure on Sunday March 25.
The final will start at noon with registration between 11am and noon.
The final will bring together the best young athletes from the competitions at Lochgilphead, Tobermory and Campbeltown plus the qualifiers from last Wednesday at Oban. tunities that encourage them to continue their participation. I look forward our partnership to continuing with Marine Harvest and ensuring reaps the rewards.’ shinty