Scottish athletes take center stage during a new event at Emirates Arena
Records fell and Scottish athletes stood out as the inaugural Events for Athletics Promotion (EAP) Indoor International Meet took place in Glasgow on Sunday (February 2).Â
Records fall
A crowd of around 1100 descended on the Emirates Arena, the venue for last year’s World Athletics Indoor Championships, to watch several Olympians, Paralympians, and high-quality competitors from across the UK and Europe in action. But it was the performances of the home athletes that took center stage.Â
Top of the bill was Alessandro Schenini. He broke the Scottish indoor record, and Scottish native record, in the men’s long jump, reaching out to 7.86m and going five centimeters further than Darren Ritchie’s previous mark. The Giffnock North athlete was followed by fellow countrymen Stephen Mackenzie (7.78m) and Murray Fotheringham (7.72m).
Alyson Bell (Bobby Gavin)
Alyson Bell took the plaudits on the track after completing an impressive 60m and 200m sprint double. In the shorter sprint, the Scot got the photo finish verdict and secured the Scottish native record after she and Joy Eze both clocked 7.33. It wasn’t long before Bell was in full flow again, winning the women’s 200m in 23.45.
Pride of place, however, should go to a stellar field event as Alessandro Schenini led home a native 1-2-3 with a brilliant performance in the men’s long jump (sponsored by MOK Security Solutions).
Alessandro leaped to 7.86m for a new National Record and Native Record (by a Scot in Scotland) as he went five centimeters beyond the existing marks held by Darren Ritchie.
It was the second-best leap of his career for the Giffnock North athlete with Stephen Mackenzie (7.78) and Murray Fotheringham (7.72) playing their part in an exciting competition for our 1100 spectators inside the Emirates.
Bell was in superb form over the course of the evening – right from her first run over 60m.
In the final, the Scot won the photo-finish argument for victory as she and her English rival, Joy Eze, both clocked 7.33 seconds. That gave Alyson a share of both the EAP meet record and the Scottish Native Record.
Then, what felt like less than an hour later, Alyson won the Women’s 200m in 23.45 for another new EAP meet record.
‘I’ve raced here at the Emirates since I was in my early teens and I do love racing here,’ she said.
‘It has been a good night, and I am delighted with both final performances and my times.
Another highlight of the evening came during the men’s 1500m, which was won by Joe Wigfield in 3:37.72 ahead of Archie Davis’ 3:38.58. Third-placed Kane Elliott broke the Scottish native record for the distance with his run of 3:40.75, lowering a mark that had stood for 28 years.Â
Kane-Elliott (Bobby Gavin)
Elsewhere, Irish two-time European relay gold medallist Sharlene Mawdsley looked sharp in the women’s 400m, clocking a PB of 51.69 to edge out British training partner Lina Nielsen’s 51.86. Both were inside the qualifying standards for next month’s European Indoor Championships.Â
Ava Lloyd, training partner to Keely Hodgkinson at the M11 Track Club, won the women’s 800m in 2:05.13, edging out Hannah Cameron (2:05.87). In comparison, Denmark’s Simon Hansen won the men’s 60m in 6.69 and British Paralympian Zac Shaw led home a men’s Para 60m mixed classification race in 7.22.
The Men’s 1500m promised much and did deliver a new EAP Meet record from race winner, Joe Wigfield, clocked 3:37.72.
Second place went to Archie Davis in 3:38.58 and Kane did enough in third at 3:40.75 ot take the Native Record held by Campbell for almost three decades.
‘I am pleased with the Native Record and my fastest season opener indoors, even though I had hoped to run a little quicker on the night,’ said Kane.
‘The Native Record wasn’t my primary motivation but it is still nice to have improved that a little bit (from 3:43). I have been away in South Africa and just travelled back so that might be a factor.’
The men’s 500m saw a win for English athlete Dom Nolan in 14:15.13 and Cambuslang athletes were second and third via Callum Tharme (14:19/33) and Jamie Mackinnon (14:19.91).
Irish athlete Sharlene Mawdsley was the fastest in the Women’s 400m races with a PB of 51.69 seconds. Training partner, GB international Lina Nielsen clocked a European Indoor standard at 51.86. Zoey Clark was at 53.41 there as she continued her return from injury.
Dutch athlete Isaya Klein Ikkin set a new EAP Record in the men’s 400m with 46.57 as a number of athletes went sub 47 seconds. T47 Scot, Cameron Thores, clocked 55.29.
Danish athlete, Simon Hansen, won the Men’s 60m final in 6.69 with Adam Thomas fourth in 6.77 (Adam 6.73 in the heats).
British Paralympian Zac Shaw led home a men’s Para 60m race in 7.22 with good runs there by Scottish duo Matthew Power (7.58) and Cameron Thores (7.78) in a mixed classification race. Ali Smith won the Women’s event on Raza points.
Paralympic long jump champion Joel de Jong raced in that event but decided against risking a hamstring injury in the jumps. Scottish Para athlete Steven Stone jumped 6.09 in his competition.
Steven jumped with the U18 athletes and the EAP U18 long jump was won by Douglas Knox of Springburn with 6.68m.
It was a learning curve for Scots across a range of events including U18 Women’s high jump, where Leanna Elliot won with 1.64m.
*All at Scottishathletics send our sympathies and good wishes to Jane Davidson. Jane was hurt in a bad fall in the 60m hurdles right at the start of the program and may well have suffered a serious leg injury. As the meeting continued, Jane and her family were headed for a planned hospital visit.
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Kane Elliott
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Club: Falkirk Gender: Male Age Group: SEN County: Scotland East Region: Scotland Nation: Scotland | Lead Coach: William Sharp |