Athletics News
2011 |
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| September |
Great Scottish Run - Primary Schools Challenge
On Friday, 2 September 2011, Glasgow School of Sport athletes were selected to perform pacemaking duties at the Great Scottish Run Primary Schools Challenge. This schools' event saw 3000 primary aged children run over a 1500 metres course in Glasgow Green. The 3000 young athletes were placed into three waves and further sub-divided into three groups in each wave. The Glasgow School of Sport a thletes paced all 9 groups safely around this tree-lined and riverside course ensuring all the youngsters had an experience to remember.
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| Ben leading off one of the groups |
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| From left to right Ben, Stacie, Elizabeth, Amy and Chris |
Norrie Hay
Head Coach (Athletics)
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Warm Weather Training in Monte Gordo, Portugal
During the Easter school holidays, the Glasgow School of Sport Athletics Programme held its annual warm weather training camp in Monte Gordo, Portugal.
Like last year we accompanied the Scottish National Squad, giving our athletes the opportunity to observe, learn and train with elite athletes.
This year's athletes were Lee Wilson and Jade Barclay on their second trip, along with Ben Stafford, Adam Gatens, Lewis Nicholson, Ciaran Gallagher and Sophie Byers all making their first trip.
The trip was ten days long giving us eight full training days on site. Everybody had an individual training plan, with coach Norrie Hay calling on the help of the Scottish national coaches to assist with delivery of the planned training. This was particularly important for Lewis Nicholson who was able to get individual shot-putt coaching throughout the week.
We had fantastic weather throughout the trip and everybody took full advantage by putting in a great effort in all the sessions. Hopefully we can show the benefits during this summer's track and field competition season.
Norrie Hay
Head Coach (Athletics)
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| GSoS Participants at the Warm Weather Training Camp |
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24 February 2011
Glasgow Schools XC Championships
The Glasgow School of Sport sent a small group of endurance athletes to the annual Glasgow Schools XC Championships held at Nether Pollok playing fields within Pollok Country Park.
The top individual performance of the day undoubtedly came from Elizabeth Edgar who took silver medal in a tremendous S3 girls' race. Elizabeth set off determinedly over this muddy, twisty two mile trail leading the field through the trees surrounding the playing fields. As Elizabeth and co-leader Catriona Graves exited this section of the course Elizabeth took a heavy tumble allowing Graves to establish a small lead which she was able to hold until the end with Elizabeth holding on to win silver and her first medal in School colours. She is now looking forward to a strong run in the Scottish Schools.
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| Charli, Hannah, Casey and Abbigail | Elizabeth Edgar |
The majority of athletes competing for the School on the day were S1s and we had strong hopes in the S1 girls' team race. This looked even better when at half way in this race a group of five girls including Abbigail McInnes, Hannah Bartle and Casey Alexander were clear of the field. With Charli Shand just behind in ninth Glasgow School of Sport led the team race.
Unfortunately a stewarding error saw the leading dozen athletes sent the wrong way, meaning they ran close to 150 to 200 metres more than the rest of the field. Despite this setback Abbigail and Hannah battled back to finish fifth and sixth. With Charli fifteenth and Casey twentieth the girls' team still managed to come second.
In the S1 boys' race Paul Harper also got off to a good start and was around fifth at half way but faded a little on the second half and finished a solid tenth overall.
The final race of the day saw the two eldest of the Glasgow School of Sport entries, Adam Gatens and Ben Stafford, run in the senior boys' race. Both boys ran good solid races over a last minute shortened course, a change which did not aid their chances. However sixth and seventh in a competitive race was a good warm up for the forthcoming Scottish Schools.
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20 February 2011
Young Athlete League
A number of Glasgow School of Sport athletes were competing for their clubs in Scottish Young Athlete League. Pick of the performances came from Amy McLachlan in the 60 metres hurdles, James Higgins in the Under 17 400 metres event, Morgan McKinnon in the Under 15 hurdles and Casey Alexander in the Under 13 60 metres and 200 metres.
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13 February 2011
Scottish Under 15/Under 17 Combined Event Championships
On Sunday, 13 February 2011, the Glasgow School of Sport had 4 girls competing in the National Combined Events Championships. This event fits with the GSOS training methodology of the first and second year programme of multi-eventing. Our participating athletes were S1’s Hannah Bartle alongside S2 girls Amy Coyle and Morgan McKinnon who were competing in the Under 15 Girls’ category and S4’s Amy McLachlan who was competing at Under 17 level.
All four girls competed over the same five events: 60 metres hurdles; long jump; high jump; shot putt and 800 metres over a six hour period. The girls were participating in their first ever pentathlon but all four competed with distinction, setting numerous personal best times across the events.
In the Under 17 competition Amy McLachlan managed new personal bests in all five events, the pick of which was 9.94 seconds in the 60 metres hurdles which lifted her to sixth in the Scottish Under 17 hurdle rankings and a 1 metre 31 centimetres high jump adding 15 centimetres to her previous best.
In the Under 15s Morgan McKinnon was the highest finisher claiming tenth overall, a great attempt in her first pentathlon. The pick of her individual performances was a 10.21 seconds hurdle run and taking 10 seconds off her 800 metres best. She also set a new personal best in the high jump. Next overall was first year girl Hannah Bartle who set personal bests in both High Jump (1metre 35 centimetres) and also 60 metres hurdles, finishing twelfth overall. Our final competitor was Amy Coyle who unfortunately took a tumble in the hurdles, failing to finish, and scored zero points. This ultimately prevented Amy from contesting a top ten place. Undeterred Amy continued and set personal bests in both high jump (1 metre 35 centimetres), and 800 metres (2 minutes 46 seconds).
All four girls deserve tremendous credit for their effort and commitment on the day, trailblazing the way forward for the Glasgow School of Sport programme.
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| James Higgins (centre) | Ingles Lumfuankenda (centre) |
10 February 2011
Scottish Schools Track & Field Championships
The Glasgow School of Sport athletes were out in force at the Scottish Schools Track and Field Championships at the Kelvin Hall. Pride of place, for the top performances, goes to our two gold medal winners James Higgins and Ingles Lumfuankenda.
Our 60 metres sprinters were first into action with six athletes competing. In the Under 16 Boys’ event, James Higgins and Mahad Ahmed both won their opening heats comfortably, qualifying for the semi-finals later in the day. Also qualifying was Jonathon Faulds in the Over 16 Boys’ event. Amongst those not qualifying, there were good runs from Lewis Nicolson and Amy Coyle dipping under 9 seconds.
Next up was Lee Wilson who qualified for the Over 16 Boys’ 1500 metres final after a competitive and dramatic heat. Following him into action were the 300 metres girls with Jade Barclay setting the standard with two powerful runs in her heat and semi-final to qualify for the Over 16 Girls’ final. Also competing were Sophie Byers and Amy McLachlan who both had the consolation of setting new personal bests, with Amy in particular taking a huge step forward.
In the field events Lewis Nicolson threw a personal best in the Over 16 Boys’ Shot to finish a creditable fifth and Morgan McKinnon managed tenth in the Under 16 Girls’ event throwing over 8 metres. However, over in the Under 16 Boys Long Jump we had high medal hopes. Ingles Lumfuankenda looked capable of contesting for a podium place following his 5 metres 35 centimetres personal best at the recent National Open. Early on Ingles struggled a little with his run up but in round five he got it all right leaping out to a fantastic 5 metres 66 centimetres to win the gold medal, setting a great new personal best distance.
On the track, the semis and finals were now coming thick and fast. James Higgins and Mahad Ahmed made it through to the 60 metres final and lined up in what looked the most competitive final of the day and so it proved. James got a tremendous start, Mahad less so and halfway James was disputing the lead with Mahad a little back. In the last 20 metres the field closed right up producing a blanket finish. The photo finish provided the answers and James grabbed the silver medal in 7.35 seconds with Mahad's late charge just failing to secure him a medal and he had to settle for fourth place with the consolation of a new personal best of 7.41 seconds.
Our two other finalists lined up next with Jade Barclay getting the dreaded lane five in the Girls 300 metres final. The disadvantage of this lane draw proved too much and she had to settle for a fifth place finish. Next up was Lee Wilson in the 1500 metres final. After the two heats this looked like it could be a close run thing and it was - at least for the minor medals! Grant Muir of Williamwood was too strong for the other competitors and swept to a convincing win but behind him five boys were battling it out for second and third places. Included in this group was Lee Wilson. Entering the last 600 metres all five boys were locked together with Lee looking fairly comfortable however with two laps to go a break for home was made and Lee lost a little ground. Despite a strong last 200 metres he had to settle for a fourth place finish.
The final event of the day was the 200 metres. Here we had another strong medal contender in James Higgins who swept imperiously into the final with comprehensive wins in both his heat and semi-final. However, James kept the best until last by producing a scintillating 200 metres final race, running a blistering 23.2 seconds new personal best, to crush the field and win the Glasgow School of Sport’s second gold of the day.
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Renfrewshire Road Race Championships
The Glasgow School of Sport sent a small number of athletes to contest the local Renfrewshire Road Race Championships. The top individual performance came from Lee Wilson who finished ninth overall in the senior 5 miles race and was the second under 20 competitor to finish the race. Lee's finishing position was definitely affected by him misjudging the finish as he unleashed his finishing kick with what he thought was 200 metres left. Unfortunately there was still 800 metres left with this miscalculation ultimately costing him three places.
In the younger age groups our under 13 girls performed with credit to secure the team silver medal with Abbigail McInnes, Hannah Bartle and Charli Shand packing well together over this two miles course. In the other races there was a good run from under 15 girl Jaye McRoberts who finished seventh overall.
