Under 13s
Fifteen of Central AC’s under 13 contingent took part, many of whom were taking on their first ever championships.
Robb Ferguson was on fantastic form in the 75m hurdles as he strode away from the field to take the gold in a personal best and championship record 13.69. This made it a family double as older brother Daniel had earlier taken bronze in the under 17 hurdles.
Robb went on to place fifth in the 100m with 14.1s and was close to a PB in high jump clearing 1.31 for seventh.
In the javelin Central had two more medals. Megan Hogg took silver in the girls’event with a best ever throw of 9.31 and Tom Campbell won bronze in the boys’ event with a PB throw of 23.66. This was another family double as Tom followed his older brother Jack who took bronze in the under 15 javelin event and won the discus.
Tom was close to another PB in the 800m where he ran 2.42.95. For all these athletes this was their first ever championship medal.
Connor Bell is already an experienced championship competitor after running a Scottish all time performance in the indoor season. He yet again found himself in a high class 800m race and finished third in an excellent time of 2.24.14 for bronze.
Emily Guest made great progress at the event as she reached finals in both 100m and 200m. In the 100m she went into the competition with a PB of 15.00 but improvements to 14.78 in the heat then 14.53 in the final placed her just outside the medals in fourth. Another PB in the 200m of 31.07 placed her sixth.
Joining Emily in the 200m final was Brogan McMillan who smashed her PB with 30.68 in her heat to progress to the final where she placed seventh. Earlier Brogan had set another PB 2.45.08 in the 800m and placed a respectable sixth in the 70m hurdles in a time of 14.69.
Ruaridh Burns and Aaron Middleton were testing themselves out at 1500m for the first time and were joined by Henry Crossley. Ruaridh finished fifth in 5.22.80 and Aaron was not far behind in ninth with 5.28.31. Henry set a PB 5.49.72 for 12th, a massive 40 seconds improvement on his previous best.
There were several other PBs from Central’s athletes - Elizabeth Woods (2.91m long jump and first ever 800m in a respectable 2.57.35); Andrew Twigg (4.51m shot and 3.13.66 in 800m); Alice Cameron (33.68 in the 200m); Katy Cullen (15.85 in the 100m) and first ever 800m in 2.59.65); Gregor Saunders (15.17 in the 100m).
At this age group the most important part is that the athletes are taking part, making progress against their own personal goals and above all enjoying themselves, regardless of where they are placing.
It was great to see so many Central athletes trying so many different events and that almost every one of them set a new personal best performance in at least one of their events.