Delight as young jumpers get back to action

Elgin AAC’s Marjery Swinton was delighted that many of the northeast’s best young jumps specialists returned to action in the Speyside village of Knockando.

The all-weather runway and long jump pit is the only national standard facility between Aberdeen and Inverness.

Swinton, coach and manager of the Knockando Athletics Group linked to Elgin AAC, organised the event and plans to host another meeting on September 5.

She said: “We were asked by Scottish Athletics to host the first meet of the season, which required additional measures around the risks associated with Covid-19.

“It was both a delight and a challenge to arrange it. A strict timetable for differing age groups allowed social distancing rules to operate effectively.

“Our helpers worked hard to achieve this. We were pleased to welcome competitors from Inverness Harriers, Ross County AC, Banchory Stonehaven AC, Aberdeen AAC, Nairn and Elgin AAC.”

Abbie Crawford (Banchory Stonehaven AC) set a personal best 10.03 to win a close under-17 women’s triple jump in which just 24cm separated the top three. Emma Jones (Elgin AAC) was second, 9.79, and Ella Creamer (Banchory Stonehaven) third, 9.86.

Ruby Wittka-Jezewski (Ross County) won the under-15 girls’ contest with 9.18m, while Tom Palmer (Elgin) won the boys’ event, 8.54.

Alister MacKay cleared 6.06 to win the under17s long jump from his Ross County clubmate Aaron Kerr, 5.37, both PBs. Matthew Saunders (Nairn) won the under-15 boys with a personal best 4.51 while Stroma Fraser (Inverness Harriers) won the girls’ event, 4.93.