World champ Kilty heads cast list at Emirates

Tuesday 26th January 2016

Glasgow-bound – Richard Kilty (photo courtesy of Mark Shearman)

20160130 Senior U17 TT

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Reigning World and European Indoor 60m champion Richard Kilty headlines the start-lists for the Scottish Senior and U17 Age Group Champs at the Emirates Arena on Saturday.

The ‘Teesside Tornado’ is one of a clutch of GB internationals set to compete with the well-known Scots involved including Laura Muir, Kirsten McAslan, Allan Smith, Jamie Bowie, Josephine Moultrie, Jade Nimmo, Gillian Cooke and Maddie Murray as well as teenagers like Jonny Glen, Ben Greenwood, Cameron Tindle, Carys McAulay, Emma Canning, Mhairi Hendry and Kelsey Stewart.

It should all ensure an exciting day’s athletes with a full programme across the two championships starting at 10am with the final event scheduled for 5.05pm.

We’re delighted with the response to a ‘double day’ with the U17s having the opportunity to watch the Seniors in action on the same day and around 450 athletes in total have entered.

On Saturday, we will have live Results service from the Emirates as well as coverage on social media. Please use the link below for Results:

http://www.janetnixon.info/scottish/2016/IndSen17/index.php

Kilty is lined up for the 60m with his PB at 6.49 – set on the day in Sopot almost two years ago when he won the World Indoors. Being in the same field as Richard should be inspiration for the likes of 17-year-old Tindle, who ran a PB of 6.91 at the National Open and returns again this week and is also entered for the 200m, and Scotland international Stephen Dunlop.

Here’s video footage of Richard’s World title win in 2014 (German commentary)

https://youtu.be/zK92pR4hQG0

Story around start-lists for Seniors and U17s

The men’s high jump competition did not disappoint last year and again this time around it will be great to watch Allan Smith, David Smith, Ray Bobrownicki and others seeking to match or better last year’s 2.25m winning height.

Among other men who could contend for podium places in the Seniors on Saturday are the likes of Dale Colley, Lachlan Oates, Stephen Mackay, Anthony Young, Angus McInroy, Craig Moriarty, Pete Muirhead, David J Martin, Ross McLachlan and Chuxx Onyia.

Among the other women who could contend for Senior medals are the likes of Anna Gordon, Sarah Warnock, Kirsty Yates, Alisha Rees, Sarah Murray, Avril Jackson, Nikki Manson and Katie Purves.

One of the events of the day could certainly be the Women’s 800m. The field looks particularly strong here with no fewer than 10 of the athletes listed with PBs below 2.08.00 and, while Muir is clearly the favourite, it could be exciting to see how some of Scotland’s best young athletes fare via the performances of McAulay, Hendry, Erin Wallace and Sarah Eunson.

Kirsten McAslan – ready for 800m run

The ‘wild-card’ of course is GB relay medallist McAslan. Kirsten hasn’t run the 800m for four years (her PB is listed as 2.08.00) but with no plan to compete over 400m at the World Indoors, the Manchester-based 22-year-old will head to Glasgow with high hopes.

‘Kirsten is very excited about this 800m run and so are we,’ said her coach, Trevor Painter.

‘She has been in South Africa training recently but the Scottish Champs is a good opportunity now for her. We’ve had this 800m idea for quite some time but it just has not quite fitted her schedule. She has a 2.08.00 but that is historic and she has not run one for four years.

‘This year it does and I’d like to think she is in shape for something around 2.01 to 2.03 in terms of a time. Certainly, she is working away with training partners who can run 2.03.

‘We know there is a quality field there – with Laura obviously having started well indoors the other week. Hopefully it is a good race and that helps Kirsten.

‘The indoor season isn’t a huge focus, though, because the summer season is more important with the Olympics on the horizon for the 400m and the 4 x 400m Relay.’

McAslan’s training partner, Leah Barrow, had entered (with a 2.03 PB) but is now competing this weekend for England – thus opening the door to the final to another Scot.