It's still all to play for following the heats of the 149th New Year Sprint at the East Lothian Athletics Arena in Prestonpans today. There was an excellent turn out of athletes all bidding to win the £4000 prize.
Conditions were perfect for the running of the 10 sprint heats, this would change later in the day however with a cold stiff wind picking up for the supporting events.
Both Edinburgh AC and East Kilbride AC will have three runners in Monday's cross-ties at Musselburgh Racecourse. Defending champion Greg Kelly EK powered home in heat 1 in 11.53,joining him is clubmate Calum McWilliam, a finalist in the past two years McWilliam won heat 5 in 11.43. Sandy Wilson heads the Edinburgh AC challenge following his heat 3 win in 11.23 which was the second fastest of the day. The honour of being 'fastest up' went to William Hutchison,Lasswade AC who powered home in 11.22 in heat 2, rather than go home and rest up, Hutchison contested the Open 90m handicap later in the day and was rewarded with victory and a £300 prize.
The consistent Kieran Reilly,Lasswade AC is also well in the mix, winning heat 8 in a speedy 11.31 as is twice runner up Ryan Houten,Peebles who stopped the clock at 11.32 in winning heat 7.
Edinburgh veteran Graeme Armstrong booked a lane in the x ties with victory in heat 10 in 11.77.
Steven Park,Edinburgh who performed consistently during the summer also qualified winning heat 9 in 11.67. Completing the line up of heat winners is Oliver Wagner, Ecclefechan the victor in heat 6 in 11.51.
Four females have made the x-ties all as fastest losers. Three of them, Megan Busby-Bell, Carlisle Aspatria, Stacey Downie,Edinburgh AC and Rianna Sterricks,Leithenburn AC finished 1st 2nd & 3rd in the final of the Women's 90 metres handicap, they will be joined by Christie Rout,TLJT.
HEAT WINNERS
HEAT 1: Greg Kelly East Kilbride AC [5M] 11.53s.
HEAT 2: William Hutchison,Lasswade AC[11M] 11.22.
HEAT 3: Sandy Wilson Edinburgh AC 8.25M] 11.23
HEAT 4: Max Leslie,Edinburgh AC [8.25]
HEAT 5: Calum McWilliam East Kilbride AC[9.75M] 11.43
HEAT 6: Oliver Wagner,Ecclefechan[9.75M] 11.43
HEAT 7: Ryan Houten,Peebles [8.25M]11.32
HEAT 8: Kieran Reilly Lasswade AC[10M] 11.31
HEAT 9: Steven Park,Edinburgh[10M] 11.65
HEAT 10: Graeme Armstrong,Edinburgh [21.50m]
Fastest losers:Christie Rout TLJT[23.50M] 11.73,Kyle Potts,Hawick[12M]11.50,Ryan Clydesdale East Kilbride AC [10M]11.51,Stacey Downie,Edinburgh AC[18M] 11.57,Cameron Caldwell,TLJT[9M]11.46,Cameron Smith,Central AC[14M] 11.63,Doug DonaldOakham[18.75M] 11.68,Megan Busby-Bell,Carlisle Aspatria[21.50M] 11.69, Alexander Young,Larkhall YMCA AC[9M] 11.59.Rianna Sterricks,Leithenburn AC [22.50M]11.69.
The Veterans 90m handicap was won by Malcolm McPhail,Ayr Seaforth. There was a Kelso 1 – 2 in the Open 800 metres h/cap with Fraser Neill powering home ahead of Matthew Fleming with another Borderer Dean Whiteford in 3rd place.
There was some good racing in the Youth events, in the 90 metres Maddison Murdoch,Larkhall YMCA AC was the victor in a close finish from Louis Whyte,Leithenburn AC and Finn Douglas TLJT.
The 9-12 200 metres was won by Harris Morrison,Inverclyde AC with Calum Holmes,Edinburgh AC the victor in a closely contested 13-15 age group 200 metres.
The Youth's 800 metres developed into a three way tussle down the home straight with Skye Marshall,Pitreavie AC emerging victorious from Harris Morris,Inverclyde AC and Hannah Steel,Lothian RC.
Published: 2017-12-30 21:04:06