National Athletics League
GlasgowJaguars hosted a very successful match at Scotstoun on Saturday and once againEdinburgh AC athletes, officials, team managers, coaches and photographerplayed prominent roles, it was a 3rd place finish behind League WinnersThames Valley Harriers and only 1 point behind Woodford Green and EssexLadies.
The result lifted the team to a 5thplace finish in the league and guarantees Premier Division competition nextseason, even if the Premier Division is reduced to 8 or 6 clubs. Moira Nisbet headedup the organising group for this match and comments from the visiting teamssuggested that the match was one of the best they had attended, Edinburghofficials, who supported the match were MarcRitchie, who was Technical Manager, Brian Nisbet who asequipment officer checked in nearly 100 private implements. Moira was also afield judge on the day, while HelenaBlack was a track judge. Alistair Aitchison was track refereeand Sandy and MikeForrest and CameronLindsay were on the Photo Finish. Gary Leek hasposted his photos from the event on the Glasgow Jaguars Track and Field clubfacebook page, where you can also find links to the full match reports for the3 fixtures, plus photos from each of the 3 matches.
Gary’sphotos can also be found on his own site at:
https://www.athleticsdigital.com/leagues/uk_national_athletics_league_scotstoun_2023/
Themen's team was managed by KeithRidley and AnneScott assisted with the women's team.
EdinburghAC athletes were very much to the fore and made a valuable pointscontribution.
In a strong field it was a 4th place forBradley Francisin the A 400MH in 54.37 and he ran a strong first leg in the 4x400 team, whofinished in 4th. Bradley has competed in all 3 fixtures in what has beena breakthrough season for him, lowering his PB by nearly 2 seconds.
It was also a 4th place for AndrewMcFarlane in the Pole Vault with a height of 4.21. Emily Craig isbeginning to come into form as she heads into the Scottish Championships andfinished in 3rd place in the 400MH in 61.29.
Sam Brown madehis first appearance for the team this season and finished 5th in a competitiverace in the 800 in 1.56.53 and MarkMacDermot marked his debut for the team with a PB of 1.59. 23for a 6th place finish in the B race and finished in 6th in the B 3000M in9.05.19 his first run over this distance as a Senior athlete
Beth Ansellmade an impressive first appearance in the pink and black with a win inthe women's 800 with a time of 2.07.21. It was EAC all the way in the women's1500 with MargotWyroll finishing in 5th in the A event in 4.50.89 and Carolyn Cameron in 3rd place in the B event in her 2nd event of the day, having alreadyfinished in 2nd place in the B 3000M in 10.54.41.
Sam McNeil was in the S/Chase for the first time this season and finished in4th place in the B event in 6.54.09.
HenryClarkson, making a welcome return to competition this seasonmarked his debut for the team with a win in the A Triple Jump with an outdoorPB of 15.46.
Lauren Stoddart,who had the honour of being piped into the arena as Team Captain at 10.45 filled in in the B 800M, and was rewarded with a 4th place in the B eventbut had to wait until the penultimate event to deliver a fine 2nd place in the2k S/Chase in a season's best of 7.03.56. An interview with Lauren can be foundon the following link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov0FZXVsPTU
Atotal of 19 EAC athletes have represented Glasgow Jaguars this season, 10 womenand 9 men, and they are indebted to EAC, who have supported them in thispathway by paying their subs to Glasgow Jaguars. If you or your coachthink that this is a pathway from which you could benefit next season please donot hesitate to get in touch with mmaguire3@blueyonder.co.uk