Senior Race Round Up – 7th February 2022

The weather in the last few weeks has been somewhat challenging and Covid has still been causing issues for our senior track and field athletes, but despite this there have still been some fantastic performances from seniors and U20 athletes recently.

The 22^nd of January saw a somewhat restricted version of the National Indoor Championships due to ongoing Covid restrictions, but for the sprinters and field athletes it was all systems go to kick the season off properly.  Josh Smith recorded 7:41 in the men’s 60m and Ally Mitchell crossed the line in 23:14 in the men’s 200m, but it was Sarah Barbour who brought home the gold for Kilmarnock in the women’s pole vault clearing 3.41m.

On the 27^th of January, John Speirs took part in the RAF XC Championships and finished 30^th overall (8^th veteran) with a course PB.  John was also awarded his RAF Vets Marathon Champion medal for being first across the line at London last year – well done John!

On the 29^th of January it was back to the Emirates.  Billy has already posted a detailed report on the relays, but the captains wish to extend another huge well done to the ladies 4×200 team of Georgia Brawley, Hannah Burn, Lorne Kerr and Shona McBean Kyle and the men’s 4×200 team of Josh Smith, Lewis Tidy, Ally Mitchell and Andrew Baird who all did the club proud on the day.  Competing in the U20 multi events over the weekend were Brooke Dunlop and Isla Raeburn.  The girls had an excellent weekend of competition, with Brooke finishing 6^th overall with 3072 points and Isla in 10^th with 2750 points.

Fast forward to this weekend just gone, and we had 4 Harriers brave some extreme weather conditions at the Glasgow Winter Warmer(!) 10k at Glasgow Green.  First Harrier across the line was Louise Ballie in 51:41, followed by Thomas Samson in 54:19, Natalie Sharp in 59:39 and Catriona Hastings in 60:33.  Great running in horrible conditions, well done all!

If the weather was bad in Glasgow, it was even worse in Forfar where Stevie Robson was taking part in the extremely popular Forfar Multi Terrain Half Marathon as part of his marathon preparations.  Despite the snow, hail, wind, mud and hills he completed the course in 1:31.37 as 8^th senior man and 17^th overall.

The coming weeks are looking busy with Masters Indoors, National Indoors for the middle distance runners and of course National XC at Falkirk (any last minute names please to Captains before 10/2/22 at the absolute latest).  We then look ahead to the Allan Scally relays – still looking for two men to make up a team, speak to Jennifer if you are interested!