Western Isles Track and Field 2009

Excellent Track and Field Championship’s!

Click here for full results

This season’s Western Isles Track and Field Championships provided all the emotion, trials and triumphs of the day as athletes of all ages from throughout the Hebrides met to compete at the Smith Avenue track! In the main the two established clubs, Stornoway R&AC and North Uist AAC made up the bulk of the entry, but there was good representation from South Uist and non attached competitors from other parts of Lewis also competed with success.

Conditions for quick times in the different events were not perfect as the sun came and went throughout the competition and as you’d expect at an island event the wind also played its part. For once the wind was not coming from the prevailing direction and this meant that unusually for the sprinters it favoured the shorter of their events, the 100meters!

In the sprints there were impressive performances from several runners. Abbie MacKay, SRAC and Rory Muncaster NUAAC did the double over 100 and 200 meters in convincing style in the under 13 category. In the under 15 sprints Abbie’s sister Jodie also had a fine sprints double win as did her SRAC her club mate Alasdair Summers. Alasdair recently competing in the North Schools Championships in Inverness also recorded a double sprint win’s and both in Championship best times, the young Harris boy is one to keep an eye open for!

There were also very good competitive races in the sprints and some of the winners were pushed to the line, separated in some cases by the smallest margin (gladly some of this will be recorded next season by electronic timing and photo finish capability). In the boys under 11 race over 75meters South Uist’s Innes MacLeod was given the decision for gold over SRAC’s Ryan MacSween, their times 11.28 seconds and 11.29 seconds respectively. What a great contest and South Uist’s first win of the day! Another top performance in challenging Jodi Mackay for the 100 meter title came from SRAC’s Alicia MacSween who had a very good day’s competition taking second in the 100, as well as first’s in both long and high jump competition’s.

NUAAC’s Mairi MacIntosh was winner of the girls under 11 75 meter race, but she caught the eye running second place in the middle distance race over 600 meters after a very comfortable and relaxed looking heat. However the longer stride of SRAC’s Kirsty Thompson was just too much for the field as she front ran from start to finish of the race ahead of Mairi in second and SRAC’s Chirsty Graham a little further back in third. The boys under 13 race was a very close event; the race went as a combined under 13, under15 race and as some of the younger runners tried to match the pace of the older boys their was a “burn-up” price to pay! However a well judged pace fro the two laps by Kenneth MacSween, SRAC saw him run to a very good win over club mates, Connor MacLean and Ross Alison.

SRAC’s dominance over 800 meters saw further wins for Alasdair Summers U-15, Chloe Thompson U-13 and Rebecca Munro U-15. Rebecca’s good form continued onto the schools sports championships and at the same distance set a new 800 meter record of 2minutes 28 in a very good race.

Mairi MacIntosh and Abbie MacKay continued their successes on the track into the jumps competition winning the long jump in under 11 and under 13. In the boy’s under 13 long jump the competition was very close with only three centimetre separating winner Laurence Donkers NUAAC from SRAC’s Stuart MacDonald. Carl MacPhee NUAAC who’s has all ready been selected twice for the Highland’s and Islands’ select team (team HIPPO) won the under 15 boys event over close rival Alasdair Summers.

The throws events are a developing category in Lewis with Uist having had the most success in these events previously. But this year Mary Haubrick of the Nicolson Institute won both Shot Putt following her victories at the North Schools Championships and hopefully the throwing events will feature more in Lewis and throughout the islands! Alasdair MacLeod also of Nicolson Institute took the throws double in the boys’ events.

In the older age categories of Under 17, 20 and senior there was some notable performances and gladly from those getting their last warm up events before travelling to the Nat West World Island Games this Saturday! Stewart Johnson triple jumped to over 12 meters and Chirsty MacLeod ran a good 10minutes 54 over 3K as her final time trail for her 5K race at the games. All those associated with isles athletics wish those well travelling to Aland.

The success of the day’s events is due in part to the fine weather on the day (dry), but a big round of thanks to all the volunteers, club members, parents and helpers. The complete results of the day’s competition including under 17, 20 and senior can be seen on the SRAC web site – www.srac.org.uk .

SRAC club sessions continue each Tuesday 6pm for 12years + and Saturdays 10.30am for 9years+ at the running track, all those interested in doing throwing with the club are most welcome!

Alf T