Morag in top form at Pitreavie meet

Jun 24 2009 by Jean Pedder, Stirling Observer Wednesday

CENTRAL Athletic Club’s members competed with distinction at last weekend’s Scottish Athletics Senior Championships at Pitreavie.

Top billing went to an emphatic victory in the Women's 1500 metres by defending Champion Morag MacLarty as she held off a gutsy challenge by Scottish Cross Country Champion Freya Murray (Edinburgh AC) to win in 4min 18.31secs.

Emma Raven (nee Waterhouse) won Silver on succeeding days in two of the toughest endurance races. Saturday’s 3,000metres Steeplechase time was 10min 43.94secs and Emma posted a tasty 17min 9.18secs on Sunday for her second Silver.

The Men's 3,000metres Steeplechase saw Central’s Alex Hendry and Michael Wright battling for the minor places behind Kirkintilloch’s Matthew Graham. Alex came through to take Silver in 10min 00.17secs with Michael lifting Bronze with 10min 4.63secs.

Kyle Henderson may only be 16 years of age but he is already mixing with the Scottish elite. Here, for the second week in succession, he cleared 2.00metres in the High Jump and had a fractional failure at 2.05metres. The clearance was however sufficient to give Kyle his first Senior Bronze medal. Kyle best effort in the Long Jump saw him sail out to 6.74metres for fourth overall in a classy competition.

Alastair Hay and Sean Reilly had to endure tough qualifying conditions in Saturday’s heats of the 1500metres posting times of 3min 49.43secs and 3min 52.28secs respectively to qualify for Sunday’s final and bringing a massive personal best for Sean. In the final it was guest Australian athlete Collis Birmingham who pushed the pace to break up the field and saw Alastair falling back on the third lap. With a strong effort Alastair strode purposely on the last lap to pick up places but had to settle for fourth (3min 48.29secs), a tantalising 0.16 seconds away from Bronze. Sean looked below par after his fine effort on Saturday and had to settle for tenth in the Final.

Jennifer Hutchison was another to compete on both days coming through her 400metres hurdles heats in 67.09secs to qualify for Sunday’s Final. The Final saw Jennifer produce her trademark full out performance to come home fifth in a useful 66.01secs.