Central AC on track in final event

While the world’s top athletes were competing in London, the spotlight locally fell on the Central AC men in the final match of the Scottish Division One Track and Field Season in Grangemouth.

A few gaps on the teamsheet made this a real contest for the team but the superb commitment from the athletes saw Central finish third on the day and retain second spot in the league behind another championship-winning performance from Aberdeen AAC.

The 400m hurdles, saw an improved run from Aidan Thompson to finish fourth in the A race backed up by a first placing in the B race for David Lindsay (67.45secs).

The 800m saw Dale Colley win in 1.55.53, while Fraser Logan reduced his personal best to 2.08.63 for fourth B points.

Michael Currie was close to his personal best, clocking 11.36secs for sixth A place in the 100m, while Cameron Smith was close to his season’s best with 11.77secs for seventh in the B race. Aidan Thompson stamped his quality on the 3000m steeplechase winning in 9.27.65, while David Lindsay put in a fine performance for second B points.

Michael Currie produced a personal best of 51.49secs in finishing sixth in a top class field in the A 400m.

Dale Colley (4.02.87) and Alastair Hay (4.02.97) raced to the line in the 1500m well ahead of their rivals to rake in maximum points.

The 200m series saw Cameron Smith take sixth A place (23.84secs), while Kieran Halliday showed he is moving back into form with 24.84secs for seventh in the B event.

This match featured a 10,000m race with Michael Wright as Central’s sole representative.

Michael showed his“can-do” attitude as he raced to second A placing in a personal best of 32.17.07. Kai Ligertwood raced to third in the A 110m hurdles to record 22.05. In the field Tom Chandler (42.59m) and Kenny Pearson (31.56m) pick up fifth A and B places in the javelin.

Tom went on to record 1.75m for sixth A place in a top quality high jump competition.

Ron Todd recorded 3.20m in the pole vault; 30.03m for the discus and 8.84m in the shot putt as he raked in more useful points.

Graham Porterfield won the shot putt with a best of 11.42m then provided much needed points with a 28.20m discus and a 36.06m hammer throw.

Peter Muirhead finished sixth in the long jump (6.34m), while Ross McCorgray again provide back-up with a personal best of 5.51ms.

Ross then went on to record 11.24m in the triple jump backed up by Kai Ligertwood (10.25m) in his first competition in the event.

The 4x100m quartet of Michael Currie, Kieran Halliday, John Wilkie and Neil Casserly brought the baton home in a close-up seventh place to record 46.97secs.

The 4x400m quartet of Michael Currie, Aidan Thompson, Tom Chandler and Dale Colley finished sixth with a season’s best of 3.30.09secs.

The guest 100m saw Kieran Halliday record 12.13secs; Neil Casserly 12.40secs and John Wilkie 12.73secs while Neil (25.26secs) and John (26.79secs) also contested the guest 200m races.

As always there was great back-up from the club’s officials, this time through Stuart MacPherson, John Dickson and Tom McMenemy.

Points on the day were Aberdeen 375; Victoria Park Glasgow 293; Central 246; Kilbarchan 240; Pitreavie 202; Lasswade 200, Inverness 186 and Arbroath 117.

Overall League points for the season were Aberdeen 32; Central 26; Victoria Park Glasgow 21; Inverness 19; Kilbarchan 18; Pitreavie 13; Lasswade 8 and Arbroath 6.

Lasswade and Arbroath are relegated while Shettleston Harriers and Falkirk Victoria Harriers are promoted from Division 2.