Triple joy for athletes as they tackle different disciplines
Lochaber Athletics Club athletes enjoyed a super Saturday/ Sunday weekend recently while racing in three different disciplines, writes Fiona Scott.
A squad of 13 hill runners tackled the famous Ben Lomond hill race on Saturday May 7 and enjoyed the good conditions.
John Yells won the race with an outstanding performance winning by over five minutes from his nearest rival in 1:9:38.
John has made a promising comeback after two years with various injuries. If he continues this form he should have an exciting season ahead and a contender in the many races to come.
Gregor Davidson was first vet in 1:22:13 in eighth place, Iain Foggo continued his progress with 11th place in 1:25:01, Angus Cameron was 17th in 1:28:29 and Ben Dodman was 26th in 1:31:50.
First woman for Lochaber and first vet was Amanda Blackhall in 1:40:33, and other LAC athletes were well up the field.
In road running LAC athletes took the honours in the Road to the Isles Running Festival, with Liam Hutson first in the marathon in a good 1:48 on an undulating course.
Alfie Bentley continued an excellent season and followed up his win in last week’s Parkrun by winning the half marathon in 1:24.
Of the other LAC performances Debbie Reynolds shone and the vet athlete was third woman overall. This has been one of her best seasons and follows from a PB in the Fort William parkrun.
At a different venue Claire Treasurer was third woman in the Oban 10km ABCD charity road race.
LAC also relaunched their track and field team in the Grampian Athletics League for the first time since 2009 with a team of 16 enthusiastic juniors sprinting, jumping and throwing in Inverness on Sunday May 8.
There were several good debut performances, including Toby and Freddie Smith, Caoimh and Osian Bellshaw, Merry Wells and Ruaridh Beckett. Maddison MacMillan ran an impressive 200 metres and was first runner off the bend and held her sprinting style all the way to the line to record 31 secs and first place in the A race.
There were third places in the Under-11 800m for Aaron Tresidder and Isla Cant.
Headline performances of the day were in the relays and the under-11 boys team of Toby Smith, Caoimh Bellshaw, Aaron Tresidder and Ruaridh Beckett. The under-15 girls team of Alex Whelan, Talia Ham, Isla Cant and Maddison MacMillan, and the under-15 boys team comprising Angus Davies, Osian Bellshaw, Freddie Smith and Joshua Beckett showed slick baton changing to perform well on their first outing.
Key field performances were in shot putt and the long jump.