Teenagers put on a show

● Rivals show no signs of rustiness in first post-lockdown meeting

Teenagers Kyle Wilkinson (Elgin AAC) and William Hodi (Nairn AAC) were the top performers in Scotland’s first athletics meeting of the post-lockdown era at Knockando.

The Speyside venue hosted a series of triple and long jump events for all age groups, providing athletes with an opportunity to test themselves in a competitive environment for the first time this summer.

Wilkinson and Hodi, both of whom were in the top five in last year’s Scottish under-17 triple jump rankings, showed few signs of rustiness as they set about the task.

At the end of the day they were tied at the top of the leaderboard, both athletes clearing 12.97m.

Wilkinson was given the verdict on countback as his next best jump of 12.95 was better than Hodi’s 12.73.

Wilkinson, who won the Scottish under-17 indoor long jump title in January, said: “It was good to get a competition and I was really happy with the result as it’s a big PB.

“It was a serious competition but at the same time it was quite relaxed.

“I’ve known Will since I started in athletics about five years ago and it’s always good to compete with him.

“I only do the occasional triple jump nowadays as I prefer to concentrate on the long jump. That’s because I had a cartilage tear in my right knee a few years ago. It’s fine now but if I was doing triple jump regularly it might put more pressure on the knee so it’s best not to take the risk. It’s OK for long jump as it’s not my take-off leg.”

Wilkinson, a pupil at Speyside High School, hopes to fit in a few more competitions before the end of what is going to be a short outdoor season.

He said:” I hope to do the long jump at Aberdeen Sports Village later this month and again at the next Knockando meeting in September.”

Hodi, who has a best of 13.28 from competing indoors in February, was not so pleased with the outcome, but was pragmatic.

He said: “I wasn’t too happy with that as it’s well below my PB.

“But it’s to be expected as I haven’t been able to practise with a sand pit or a track until recently. Training on grass or hard surfaces isn’t the same.”

Hodi has been frustrated by the lack of competitive opportunities over the past four months but plans to make the most of anything which comes along before the end of the summer.

He said: “Normally I’d be busy every weekend but everything has been cancelled. I was gutted because this summer was the last chance I’d have to represent Scotland in the annual schools international.

“I competed in this fixture in 2019 but I was aiming to be much more competitive this year.

“There’s a few open meetings coming up over the next month and I think I’ve entered them all.”

Photograph by Bobby Gavin NICE TO BE BACK: William Hodi was delighted to get back in action at Knockando.