Track & running near Fields!
May 17th, 2010Another busy week for Gala Harrier juniors started last Sunday (9th) with the Lothian, Border and East Tayside track & field trials at Edinburgh’s Meadowbank stadium. Rowan Marr, after having raced up hills and down dales the previous day at Rowandennan, pulled on his spikes and powered round the track twice to win the Under 15 boys’ 800 metres in 2 minutes 15.22 seconds. Other performances from young Harriers included Sophie Elder who took 3rd place in the U17 girls’ 100m in 13.72, and 5th in the 300m in 45.71 and Lucy Henderson-Morris who was 5th in the U17 800m in 2.34.16.
The track and field action moved west on Saturday 15th May and to a sunny but blustery Wishaw for the Scottish Athletics Under 15 and 17 closed championships. The young athletes mentioned above were joined by Jo Marr and Demi Yorke who were first off in the heats of the girls’ U15 100m, resulting in a gutsy 5th place for Jo in 14.09 and 2nd place for Demi in 13.18, taking her through to the final. Before this, Demi, returning strongly from a lay-off through injury competed in the long jump, recording a season’s best leap of 4.91, placing her 5th overall.
The final of the 100m saw Demi cruising into a headwind and taking the gold medal by a comfortable whisker in 13.05, following this up with a succession of improved times in the heats, semi final and final of the 200m. She came home 2nd in her heat in 28.11, won her semi in 27.12 and pulled out a personal best in the final to come in bronze medal position in 26.98.
Elsewhere on the track, Rowan Marr ran a beautifully judged heat in the U15 boys’ 800m, taking second place and comfortably qualifying for the final in 2.15.48. But having run a perfect tactical heat, Rowan went to the front quickly in the final and couldn’t hold on, only losing 0.3 seconds on his previous time, but this time finishing 5th. Lucy Henderson-Morris, having tackled the 800 m last week stepped up to the U17 girls’ 1500m and finished in 5.21.20 while Sophie Elder went through as the fastest loser in her heat of the U17 girls’ 300m in 44.11, finishing the final in 44.26.
Track and field took on quite another meaning on Saturday, with a good few hills thrown in as several Harriers, along with a Lauderdale Limper took on the Hearts & Heroes Challenge, raising money for soldiers and rugby veterans’ charities. The 29 miles of scenic but demanding terrain from St Mary’s Loch to Melrose along the Southern Upland Way attracted 800 walkers and runners who enjoyed the perfect conditions of cool but bright weather in a wonderfully organised and supported event. First women’s team home (with the fastest time for a female team overall) were the Tartan Warriors representing the local e:com business Scotlandshop run by Harrier Anna White, along with Rosi Capper and Tania Bridges of Lauder Limpers. Harriers John Cairns and Tony Westbury also had amazing runs with sparkling finishes and Jules Scott from the Limpers along with her teammates sensibly chose to walk the route but have nevertheless headed the fundraising league table for some time. Well done all!
Sporting Week Ahead: Edinburgh Marathon and the Hairy Haggis Relay, Sunday 23 May, starting at 10am.
