Forth Valley League, Match 2, Saturday 20th May
It was a tough day for Lasswade ACs young athletes, on Saturday, as they went into competition in the second of this seasons Forth Valley League Division One matches. The rain had been coming down long before athletes arrived at Meadowbank Stadium, and continued throughout the course of the afternoons match. Despite the conditions athletes from Lasswade, and the other 7 teams in competition, got on with things and managed to produce a high standard of competition.
First up on the rain soaked track was the Girls Under 15 200m races. In a great start to the day for Lasswade, Mia Downie ran superbly to take first place. Her time of 26.69 was a new personal best, and also moved her into the top ten rankings, in Scotland, for the year. Following up was Abbie Malinowski. In the tightest race of the day Abbie was beaten into second, by photo finish, by Dunfermline athlete Erin Thomson. Both athletes recording times of 27.52. After being out for a while Abbie is now getting back to somewhere near her best, and Saturdays time moves her into the toptwenty rankings for the year.
Elsewhere in the 200m there was a raft of new personal bests for Lasswade athletes. In the Under 15 boys both Adam Leighton and Aonghus Spence managed to beat their previous bests. The Under 13 runners of Skye Foster, Phoebe Kong, Alastair Scott and Max Sharman also managed new best times. Not to be outdone, Abbie Foster and Ramsay Blair also managed new bests in the Under 11 competition.
The highlight of the distance events was Hannah Harley’s run in the Under 11s 600m event. Taking it out fast from the start Hannah built up a lead over the rest of the field, which she never looked in danger of surrendering. Coming home, in a new personal best time of 1.57.15, Hannah finished well ahead of second placed runner Eilidh Ovenstone from Corstorphine.
While conditions underfoot were difficult on the track, the field events arguably had it worse. In the High Jump Lasswade Athletes Adam Leighton and Michelle Blaikie both took top spot in the Under 15s. Adam winning with a jump of 1.60m and Michelle with a jump of 1.50m. Excellent performances considering the conditions.
Also out in the track, despite a treacherous run up, Alec Miller produced a big new personal best in the javelin with a throw of 15.13m. Not far behind, in his first competition, was fello
w Under 13 athlete Jan Rochon, with a throw of 13.50m. As the day wore on conditions were starting to affect most of the events. Run up areas and the track were becoming more dangerous and at one point a snow shovel was brought out to clear standing water from the shot putt circle.
There were a number of athletes competing for the first time as well.Not the best of days to get their first taste of competition for the club, but they all did a fantastic job.
As the relays approached it was becoming clear that conditions were getting the better of the day. With the track becoming increasingly dangerous, and concern for athlete safety, the decision was made to cancel the running of the relays.
Despite two fine team performances Lasswade find themselves in 7th place in the league, but only one point behind Central AC in 6th. With the two teams finishing in 7th and 8th getting relegated, everything now rests on a strong team performance by Lasswade in the third and final match of the season. The final match of the season takes place at Grangemouth Stadium on the 24th June.
Thanks to Mark Kinghorn, who was also stuck out in the rain, for the pictures.
