The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Strachan’s picking up pace ahead of city date
Athletics: Parkrun performance boosts Elgin man’ s preparations
Kyle Wilkinson was one of the top north performers in the Scottish under-15 age group track and field championships at Aberdeen Sports Village.
The Elgin AAC member pocketed two gold medals, winning the long jump with a personal best performance of 6.27m which is the 10th best by a UK athlete in this age group.
He went on to take the triple jump crown in an exciting competition that went down to the wire.
Edinburgh AC’s Isaac Johnston had led the field after clearing 11.44m with his first attempt, but Wilkinson refused to buckle and produced the winning mark of 11.60 in the sixth and final round.
Nairn’s William Hodi also achieved a podium position in the triple jump, taking bronze with a personal best clearance of 11.28.
Hannah Kingham added to the Elgin success story by winning the girls’ discus with a lifetime best throw of 30.84, then a bronze in the javelin with 33.48.
Tamsin Fowlie added two silvers to the Morayshire club’s tally when finishing second in the 100m (12.75) and 200m (26.06).
James Rollo (Inverness Harriers) threw five metres further than he had ever achieved before when he won the discus with 41.63 metres – more than 11m ahead of the field.
Robin Sn ed den (Inverness Harriers) and Timi Fatona (Aberdeen AAC) were double sprint medallists, finishing second and third respectively in the 100m and 200m.
“Aiming for another fast time when he lines up in Aberdeen”
The longer sprint was won by Edinburgh AC’s Alexander Poustie-Williamson who set a championship record of 23.05, with Snedden timed at 24.07 and Fatona at 24.24.
Alister Mackay (Ross County AC) picked up silver in the pole vault, clearing 2.76m, while Aiden Brindley (North Ayrshire) won with a championship record of 3.60m.
There were also silvers for Aberdeen AAC’s Lewis Watt in the 800m (2:03.39) and Ross County’s Gabriel McFarlane who set a personal best 42.16 in the hammer.
Daniel Lathan (Inverness Harriers) took bronze in the hammer with his best throw of 36.35.
Meanwhile, Cameron Strachan tuned up for next weekend’s Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run 10km by producing an excellent performance in the 200th Hazlehead parkrun.
The Metro Aberdeen runner recorded a personal best of 15min 42sec to finish more than two minutes ahead of the next runner in the field of 323. It was the second biggest turnout in the event’s four year history.
Only Kenyan international Gideon Gathimba, who clocked 14:48 to lead home a record 334 runners in February 2017, and Commonwealth Games marathon bronze medallist Robbie Simpson, who was timed at 15:27 last October, have run quicker.
Strachan, who has chalked up wins in this summer’s Peterhead 5km, Westhill 10km and Chapelton of Elsick 10km, is aiming for another fast time when he lines up in Aberdeen next Sunday.