Over 230 athletes competing at the first of the Athletics East Lothian Track & Field Summer Series
The sun aptly arrived for the first of the Athletics East Lothian Summer Track & Field series and with the East Lothian Athletics Arena at Meadowmill basked in some springtime sunshine the conditions meant some fine performances from the 230 athletes who took part.
It was one of the biggest competitions held at Meadowmill with the 230 athletes aged from 5 years old in the Twenty-14 Primary Kids competition, all the way to the senior athletes in the Open Graded competition. There was a great showing of athletes from Team East Lothian AC and the three local athletics clubs too with Haddington, Dunbar and Musselburgh as well as a number of athletes from across the Lothians and Borders.
The performance of the day was from Edinburgh AC man, Howard Bell, who took advantage of the favourable conditions in a special Under-18 110m Hurdles race. Bell was just outside the Commonwealth Youth Games qualifier, and has a few more races before the June deadline. Cameron Steven, also with his sights on the Commonwealth Youth Games qualifier in the 800m, stepped down a distance to claim a win in the 400m with a new personal best of 51.6. On the field there were some fine performances in the high jump from Team East Lothian’s Owen Ashall (EAC) and Kate Johnstone. Owen edging his personal best up to 1.63m and with Kate showing new heights with a personal best of 1.60m.
There was a host of personal best performances and seasons best performances across the afternoon of track and field competition, pleasing the hundred plus crowd who had come to see friends and family compete. It was equally encouraging to see the 36-odd Primary 1 to Primary 5 kids take part in their very first 'competititon' in the Twenty-14 Run-Jump-Throw challegne, which consisted of a 60m sprint, 1-Lap endurance run, long jump and cricket ball throw (javelin developmental event). Both Councillor Tim Day and Depute Provost Councillor Jim Gillies were in attendance watching the local talent run faster, jump higher and throw further.
Unscrutinised results can be found by clicking here. (errors should be reported to athletics@enjoyleisure.com)
[image: the start of the Twenty-14 Primary Kids 1-Lap endurance run. Image thanks to Rob Eyton-Jones]
