East Lothian athletes shine at series of prestigious events

In the under-13 boys, Tom Ibbs was in the medals with a gold and big personal best in the 1,500m, clocking a time of 4.41.19, and another personal best of 1.32m to win bronze in the high jump.

In the under-15s, Ben Anderson was also in great form, winning the long jump with a huge 5.75m, though slightly above the legal wind limit.

He also won gold in the 300m with a personal best of 39.43secs and bronze in the 100m, in which he also obtained another personal best of 12.23 in qualifying.

Aoife Swan-Ashe (far right) returned from Grangemouth with a silver medal in the 300m

Imogen Turner ran a fantastic 1,500m in 4.47.41 to win bronze in a massive 11-second personal best.

Meanwhile, all the other TEL under-15 athletes obtained personal bests in some or all of their respective events.

Morven Kenny was fifth in a personal best of 45.17s in the 300m, sixth in the long jump with 4.20m and seventh in the 75m hurdles in a personal best of 13.69s.

Ava Rose Curtis was seventh in the 800m with a five-second personal best of 2.29.17, while Frank Orsi had two personal bests of 28.16s in the 200m and 24.34m to gain fourth place in the javelin.

Heidi Nicholson came eighth in the 200m, obtaining a personal best in the heats of 29.31s.

Ava Rose Curtis returned with a personal best in the 800m

In the under-17s, Aoife Swan-Ashe ran a tremendous 300m in 42.81s to gain a silver medal, Jake Page ran a five-second personal best to come seventh in the 800m in 2.13.32, while Charlie Copp and Joe Smith both ran in the 1,500m coming sixth in 4.22.84 and eighth in a nine-second personal best of 4.27.46 respectively.

There was more success for the club’s older athletes with Laura Buchan winning the triple jump in a new personal best of 11.26m.

In the long jump, she was third overall and first senior with 5.20m, closely followed by Kerry Morris in fourth with 5.13m.

Frank Orsi recorded personal bests in both the 200m and the javelin

In the men’s events, Alister Mackay won the pole vault with 4.15m and the 110m hurdles in a personal best.

Jamie Smith had to travel to Kilmarnock for the 800m, but the trip was made worthwhile with a two-second personal best of 1.59.41 to land fourth overall and third under-20.

A spokesperson for TEL said: “Congratulations to everyone for their efforts, showing that the hours spent working with our many dedicated coaches continue to produce fine results.”

Meanwhile, two of TEL’s keen frame running athletes made the trip across the Forth to compete in sunny Dunfermline on May 18 at the Pitreavie Frame Running Festival.

Sophie Carruthers and Finley Leishman with their frame running medals

Although official times were not taken at the event, Sophie Carruthers (T7) came second in the 100m with a super personal best of 33.5s and took the bronze in the 60m in a swift 19.7s.

Finley Leishman (T3) earned himself two gold medals by racing to the 40m finish in 20.2s and also speeding through the 60m in 30.7s.

Finally, Corey Campbell and Adam Hoole represented Scotland at one of the curtain raisers to the outdoor season, the Loughborough International.

In fact, Campbell’s exploits in the US have attracted not only the Scotland selectors but those of the GB team, and consequently he competed in the colours of the GB and NI Juniors team, alongside teams from England, Wales, the National Athletics League, Loughborough University and assorted guest athletes.

Hoole was first on track in the 110m hurdles match event and in gusty conditions ran a creditable fourth overall (second in the match standings) in 14.60s.

Team East Lothian's Imogen Turner took to the track in the 1,500m

He returned later in the afternoon in the long jump competition and put together six jumps over 7.30m, culminating in personal bests in rounds five and six, the latter measured at 7.62m for second place in the competition and a qualifying distance for the UK Championships in Manchester later this month.

Campbell, meanwhile, ran in the 3,000m match race, coming a fantastic fifth in a season’s best 8.17.78.

As the youngest in the top five by four years, these surely augurs well for the future and indicates he is by no means overawed by running against athletes older and more experienced.