National and club records smashed as Elgin Amateur Athletics Club pick up eight medals including three golds at the Scottish Championships
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ELGIN Amateur Athletics Club broke Scottish and championship records on the way to eight medals at the Scottish Championships over two weekends.
Holly Whittaker is a double Scottish under-13 champion after breaking the Scottish record three times to win the 70 metres hurdles, and gaining a club record to win the long jump.
Team-mate Lexi Grant produced the best jump of her young life to win the Scottish under-15 triple jump for Elgin AAC's third gold medal.
And sprinter Tamsin Fowlie won two silver medals to earn her place at the UK Schools Games in Loughborough this weekend and the Schools International in Derby on September 25.
The club sent athletes to the U17 and Senior Championships in Grangemouth in the middle of last month, and last weekend's U13/15/20 Age Group Championships in Aberdeen.
Many other personal best efforts were recorded by Elgin AAC athletes, smashing club and championship records in the process.
Club secretary Dawn Cruickshank said all events were streamed live and the commentators were full of praise for the efforts of the Moray athletes.
"The country sees us as a small club and it was noted on more than one occasion how well the coaches are doing at the club to raise such competitive athletes from a club that has less than ideal facilities," she said.
A total of 16 athletes from the club competed over the two weekends in 13 events, with 56 performances achieving 22 PBs, eight club records, two championship bests and two Scottish records.
As well as the three national gold medals earned by Whittaker and Grant, the club also won three silver and two bronze.
Club president Scott Hamilton gave his analysis of every athlete's performance on the national stage.
U13/15/20 Age Group Championships
Lauren Abbott U15 - 100m Heat 13.65, Semi-Final 13.83 - 300m Heat 43.45 PB, Final 43.92 and 4th place. Really tough schedule but massive 300m PB!
Ava Cruickshank U15 - 100m Heat 13.97 - 200m Heat 29.24, Semi-Final 29.12. Brilliant run in the 200m heat in a very competitive event.
Iris Whitton U15 - 100m Heat 14.00 - Shot Putt 7.14m PB. Very nervous at her first big comp but handled herself extremely well.
Ruaridh Mackenzie-Copp U15 - 100m Heat 14.15 - 200m 29.10 PB. Really competitive events but delivered two really solid performances at his first champs.
Evie Collins U15 - 800m Heat 2:49.95 PB. A very nervous Evie battled to a fantastic PB.
Tom Palmer is an U17 but competed up an age group in U20s - 400mH 65.85 3rd and Bronze Medal. So delighted for Tom, persistence pays off!
Kyle Wilkinson U20 - Long Jump 6.82m PB, Club Record, 2nd place and Silver Medal - 100m Heat 11.31, Final 11.19 PB, Club Record. Only 0.2 of a second separated 1st-7th place and a brilliant run put him right in the hunt.
Andrew Lumsden U15 - 300m Heat 41.51 PB and Club Record, Final 41.47 4th place, PB and Club Record - High Jump 1.54m PB. The PB machine keeps on rolling.
Georgia Grant U15 - 75mH Heat 14.07 - 200m Heat 30.63 PB. Really smooth hurdling in a tough wind in a tough heat, handled her nerves very well.
Tamsin Fowlie is an U17 but competed up an age group as an U20 - 200m Heat 26.25, Final 25.56 for 4th place - 100m Heat 12.58, Final 12.63. Some of the best delivered performances, brilliant progress.
Lexi Grant U15 - 75mH Heat 13.20 - Triple Jump 9.74m PB, 1st Place and Gold Medal. Another tough schedule handled really well but so pleased her hard work is paying off.
Gabriel MacFarlane U20 - Hammer 44.16m for 3rd place an Bronze Medal. Gabriel is a new member who trains in Inverness.
Lillia Clarke U13 - 200m Heat 30.05, Semi-Final 31.10 - 70mH Heat 12.97, Semi-Final 12.77 for 4th place. Really well performed in a tough schedule and should be very pleased.
Gemma Forgie U13 - Long Jump 3.98m - 70mH Heat 13.31 PB, Final 13.73. three brilliant performances and didn’t stop smiling.
Holly Whittaker U13 - Long Jump 5.01m PB, Club Record, 1st place and Gold Medal - 70mH Heat 11.17 PB, Club Record, Championship Record, Scottish Record, Final 11.04 PB, Club Record, Championship Record, Scottish Record, 1st Place and Gold Medal. In a word exceptional!
U17 and Senior Championships
Tom Palmer U17 - 400mH, 64.76, 4th, massive PB, improves his own Club Record - 100mH, 15.78, 5th, another massive PB - Long Jump, 5.15m, 8th, another another massive PB. What a debut to make at a national champs.
Dean Murdoch is an U20 but competed at Senior - Shot Putt, 10.26m, 8th - Discus, 22.80m, 9th. Dean decided 6 weeks ago to through at Seniors (using senior weights) so these distances are excellent for being new to them.
Emma Jones U17 - Triple Jump, 10.26m, 5th - High Jump, 1.57m, 4th. 2nd, 3rd and 4th were all on 1.57m so Emma lost out on a medal by countback and her mum said she was very close to making the jump that would have given her second place.
Tamsin Fowlie U17 - 100m, 12.73, 2nd, silver medal - 200m, 25.64, 2nd, silver medal. Brilliant performances.
Roy Taylor U17 - 800m, 2:08.11, 4th in a very tough heat and very nearly made the final.
Niamh Scott U17 - 300m, 46.42, 6th in a very tough heat - Long Jump, 4.66m, 9th, PB, only 4cm from making the final. Another great debut at this level.
Lauren Abbott U15 but competed up an age group as an U17- 100m, 13.54, 7th in a very tough semi final but brilliant to get out of the heats, PB - 300m, 45.45, 6th in another tough heat. Great effort from a first year U15 in against some top U17s.
