Edinburgh's track ambitions derailed

Edinburgh University were the city’s major representatives in Glasgow last weekend, but the reigning champions could not resist the strong local team. In spite of Glasgow’s clear points advantage, Edinburgh can be proud of their efforts and a number of gutsy individual performances on a day of thrilling action at the Kelvin Hall track.

The competition got underway with the 60m and Edinburgh began well with both James Wade and Oliver Calvo-Platero making the semi-finals; Wade in particular did well to qualify from a tough heat. Glasgow’s Cameron Clark took the win in the final after a strong run of 7.27s.

The women’s event saw Emma Storey-Gordon, Christina Micanovic and Kirsty Barr all go as far as the semi-finals, with Barr going through the final. She was unlucky to finish fifth, only 0.1s off second place, but no-one could match Alison Wylie of Robert Gordon’s and her phenomenal starts, as she took gold in 8.00s.

Bronze for Emma Bodiam in the 60m hurdles was quickly followed by gold in the Long Jump for Simon Herron in the men’s – who had plenty in hand over Napier’s second-placed Donald Tod – and Kirsty Barr in the women’s. Edinburgh were more than holding their own in the field, as Barr herself went on to finish second in the High Jump and third in the Triple Jump – just behind Susan Peddie in the latter.

The men were doing their bit, too, as Sean Gibson and Shuhei Muramatsu took third and fourth respectively in the Triple Jump, and Ray Bobrownicki took first in the high jump – jumping an untouchable 2.12m. Andrew Russell jumped 1.94m and was unlucky to miss out on second.

After lunch, four of the women’s 60m finalists rejoined battle in the 200m final. This time Wylie of Robert Gordon University was edged out, finishing fourth as Strathclyde’s Diane Ramsay finished strongly to take the gold.

The men’s 200m was arguably the most competitive event of the day, with mercilessly tight qualification from the heats catching several athletes out. Fraser Adamson of Edinburgh and Craig Ritchie of Heriot-Watt did well to reach the semis, with Ritchie coming within a fraction of a second of making the final.

As it was, the impressive Ian Garioch of Aberdeen claimed gold in 22.73s, but not without having to fend off the tremendous challenge of Glasgow’s Jamie Sinclair, whose inside lane draw allowed him to pressure Garioch right to the line.

Heriot-Watt’s Graham Evans came mighty close to winning the men’s 1500m, only to be beaten by Simon McCluney of Glasgow. They were not to be denied gold in the Shot Put, though, nor in the men’s 400m, with strong performances from Christtel Ramirez and Andrew Raeburn respectively. That 400m race was notable also for a storming final bend from Isaac Baldwin of Edinburgh, as he pipped one of three Glasgow athletes to the bronze.

In the women’s 800m final, Emma Butcher came in in fifth with a brave run that ultimately proved too taxing, having only sealed qualification in an exciting final few yards of her heat. Carlos Garcia showed tremendous endurance to secure bronze in the men’s 800m final – having edged a tight heat – before running both the 4x200m and 4x400m relays.

Glasgow dominated the relays, winning both the men’s and women’s 4x200m and the men’s 4x400m. Edinburgh were never far behind though, claiming second in each aforementioned race and the women’s 4x400m.

Come the end of the day, Glasgow had run out clear winners of the championship. Disappointment at second place for Edinburgh should not diminish what was a great effort and there is little more you could have asked of the athletes. This performance bodes extremely well for the British University Indoor Championship in a few weeks time, and the forthcoming outdoor season.