The cross country season was back with a vengeance in the first team races for two years. The races for the East of Scotland District were held in Galashiels hosted by Gala Harriers and saw a good turnout from clubs. Competitors of all ages had to contend with very wet, cold and windy weather in typical cross country style. Teams of 3 young male or female athletes (U13 to U17) ran the 2.5k short course, whilst teams of 4 men or women ran the 4.0k long course.
Ariane Baillie (U15) was in the top 10 fastest athletes in her age group with a time of 11.08m, with the young females A team placing 13th (Nieve Hannell U13 12.42m, Ariane Baillie U15 11.08m, and Erin Macfarlane U17 11.53m), and the young males A team placing 17th (Frazer Lees U13 10:42m, Lewis Muir U15 10:43m, Caleb McLeod U17 9:19m). The young male B team placed 30th, with the women’s A team placing 27th, the women’s B (Vet) team 35th and the men’s team also 35th. With the start of winter training just beginning, there’s still plenty of time for the teams to get their teeth into the cross country series.
Earlier in late summer, Pitreavie had good success at a windy 4j Studios Scottish Athletics Senior / U17 Stadium Track and Field Championships at Grangemouth. Rebecca Grieve and Rory Voss brought home a gold each, with Rebecca first in the 200m U17W in a time of 24.88s. With a key competitor Dean Patterson out of action due to a false start, Rory won the U17M 100m in 10.92s. Rory rounded off a great day taking home a silver with his second place in the U17M 200m on 22.22s, after Dean Patterson who placed first. Caleb McLeod continued the good work, with his second place and silver in the U17M 400m hurdles in 63.04s, which took place immediately after his 800m in which he placed 4th in 2:01.33m. Erin Macfarlane completed the silvers on the track with her second place in the U17W 800m in 2:15.61m. The medals continued on the field, with Stephen Mackenzie placing second in the senior men’s long jump with his jump of 7.30m, and Adom Akuoko continuing his run of good form with an 11.08m throw in the shot put to place third and take home a bronze.
