Records broken at Emirates

Monday 16th March 2015

Whitemoss athlete Holly McArthur, pictured centre here, set Scottish U17 CE record

Scottish multi-event athletes were out in force over the weekend at the Emirates Arena – and in England – and there were a handful of outstanding performances.

Joel McFarlane of Arbroath and District AC made a compelling claim for the headlines by winning the Scottish U15 title on Saturday in Glasgow and then setting a Scottish record points tally with 2947 the following day in Sheffield.

Holly McArthur of Whitemoss AAC was another athlete re-writing the CE record books in the U17 age group. Holly recorded 3685 points to take the Scottish title at the Emirates and set a new record after winning by 365 points – this after she set an U15 record only last year.

Kilbarchan’s Andrew Murphy won the Senior Men’s Heptathlon with a PB of 4911, which lifts him up to 11th on the Scottish all-time list. Highlight was an excellent 4.51m pole vault personal best to put him 20th Scottish all time for the individual event.

Erin Leggate (VP-Glasgow) made a welcome return to Combined Events, over 10 years after representing Scotland at schools international level, to win the senior women’s pentathlon title with 3183 points.

Tom Chandler of Central AC was outstanding performer in the U20 men’s Heptathlon, winning five of seven events to take the title with a personal best score of 4679 points to place sixth on the Scottish all-time list. Oliver Whellans (Chester Le Street) was second with 4319 points and Daniel Rees (Banchory and Stonehaven AC) scored 4054 points to place third.

In the U20 women’s pentathlon, Ellie McGinty (Edinburgh AC) was second to Annabelle Pask of Coventry Godiva.

The U17 men’s Heptathlon was a close battle between Scott Connal of Whitemoss AAC and brothers Andrew and Daniel McFarlane of Inverness Harriers.

Scott produced an excellent 6m long jump and 1.78m high jump followed by a 2.56.78 run at 1000m to triumph with 4224 points and place him fourth on the Scottish all-time list. Scott had set PBs in the shot, 100m and high jump.

Andrew narrowly won the family battle of the McFarlanes, his highlight being a 3.81m Pole Vault, to take second with 3964 points – 12 ahead of Daniel, who was on 3952 points for third.

With McArthur setting a new U17 Women’s record, Emily McNicol (Law and District AAC) was second with 3320 to climb to eighth all-time and Jade Carlyle (Edinburgh AC) was third for ninth all-time with 3273.

Joel McFarlane – great weekend

In the U15 boys event in Glasgow on Saturday, Joel started the first day of a unique double assault on the Scottish and English titles in the same weekend.

He won the Scottish title with 2799 points for third Scottish all-time ahead of Matt Chandler (Central AC) with 2580 points for sixth all-time and Benjamin Wightman (Perth Strathtay) with 2518 points for seventh all time.

Joel then took the long journey down to Sheffield and completed the double winning the England pentathlon title and taking the Scottish record in the process with 2947 points!

The U15 girls had some newcomers to pentathlon and it was England 800m medallist Olivia Vareille (Falkirk VH) who won in 3027 points to put her ninth on the Scottish all-time list.

The contest for the other medals was close and Shannon MacInally (Whitemoss AAC) was second with 2771 points and Anna Cameron (Central AC) third with 2722 points.

In the U13 boys Reuben Nairne, who has already set multiple hurdles records this season, just missed adding the Scottish pentathlon record by two points with 1860 points for victory. Euan Johnston (Pitreavie) was second and Owen Ashall (Edinburgh AC) third.

In the U13 girls Jennifer Brydon (Pitreavie) won ahead of Ellie O’Hara (Edinburgh AC) and Rosie MacKay (Giffnock North).

This weekend is further proof of the amount of talent in Scottish combined events at the moment with 2 Scottish records and a host of new all-time best performances.

This comes in addition to a GB junior international vest for Emma Canning (Whitemoss AAC) and a previous Scottish U17 record for Caitlin Edgar (Central AC) earlier in the season, both athletes opting to rest this weekend in preparation for the summer.

Two coaches helped contribute information for this report and that is hugely appreciated by scottishathletics, particularly after a hectic weekend across various strands of the sport such as European Throws, Cross Country, Road Racing and Indoor Events. Thanks.

Pitreavie relay squad – championship best

* The Senior Scottish Relays took place on Saturday and it was a superb day for the Pitreavie AAC squad in the 4 x 200m races.

Their quartet of Declan Brennan, Ewan Dyer, James McLaren and Steve Perrie-Clyde set a championship record with victory in 1.29.30. It was a tight finish, with VP-Glasgow timed at 1.29.61 for the silver medals with Giffnock North AAC taking thid in 1.33.05.

VP-Glasgow turned the tables on that result in the Women’s event. Their team won in 1.43.81 with Pitreavie in second on 1.45.35. Giffnock again had to settle for bronze medals, with their Women’s team timed at 1.46.49.

Tags: Andrew Murphy, Combined Events, Emirates Arena, Holly McArthur, Joel McFarlane