A small band of our finest senior track and field athletes travelled to Birmingham over the weekend of the 18/19th February to sample the new track at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. 

We had strong athletes in  both the Women’s and the Men’s 1500m with Erin Wallace and Neil Gourley, both made it through their heats with ease.  In the men’s final, Neil bided his time and he and George Mills (Brighton Phoenix) eventually pulled away from the pack. On the final bend Neil cruised passed George to take the title in a time of 3.41.26 and booked his place for the Europen Indoor Championships in Instanbull in early March.

In the women’s race there was much  reluctance to take the lead. Erin finally took the bull by the horns and picked up the pace.  She lead until the final bend and was overtaken by the eventual winner Ellie Baker (Shaftesbury Barnet) and Katie Snowden (Herne Hill) . Erin crossed the line in 4.09.22, a seasons best and new indoor club record, for the Bronze medal.  Well done Erin, a fantastic run.

In the pole vault Reuben Nairne continued his excellent form and won Silver with a clearnace of 5.05m.  In the women’s long jump Nikki Manson had high hopes following her recent Scottish Naitive Record leap of 6.37m.  Sadly a knee injury forced her to retire after her one legal jump of 6.01.  Nikki finished 5th.  The eventual winner was Jasmin Sawyers (City of Stoke with a leap of 6.73m. In the women’s 400m, Rachel Callan clocked 55.66 in her heat, a new pb, and progressed to the semis. In the semis she clocked 55.88 in 5th place.  In the mens 400m Kyle Alexander was 4th in his heat in a time of 49.00, which was not quick enough to progress..  In the 200m Murray Fotheringham progressed to the Semi-finals and allthough he finished second, was not quick enough to progress to the final.  Alyson Bell qualified  third in her heat of the 60m and came fourth in her semi final in a time of 7.46.