Published: Thursday, 17th July, 2008 08:40
China crisis for Dunfermline sprinter Nick Smith as Olympic dream dies away
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DUNFERMLINE sprinter Nick Smith’s dreams of heading to his second Olympic Games bit the dust while five fellow West Fifers will also miss the flight to Beijing.
The 100 metre man made it to Athens in 2004 but missed out on selection to Team GB for this summer’s games after the Aviva National Championships in Birmingham at the weekend.
Smith (25) didn’t make it out of a tough semi final and, along with Pitreavie athletes Eilidh Child, Stephanie Walker, Stacey Downie, Jamie Coull and Francis Smith, his bid to reach China failed at the last hurdle.
He said, “Although I am upset that I am not on the plane to Beijing, I am pleased with my performance and the experience I gained at Birmingham.
“I ran a good race in my heat but cramp mid-way through the semi-finals forced me to slow down and unfortunately my Olympic dream came to an end.
“I mustn’t be disheartened though as I am only mid-way through the season and still have four or five big competitions ahead of me where I can work on reducing my time.”
Eilidh Child showed her class at Birmingham to finish with a bronze medal, but it wasn’t enough.
Together with Stephanie Walker, she competed on Friday evening over the 400m hurdles and ran 59.26 to finish second in her heat and progress to the final.
However, Walker missed out after finishing sixth in her heat in a time of 61.92.
In the final, Child ran a good race and showed her strength off the final hurdle to take bronze with a time of 57.83.
Also on Friday evening, Jamie Coull competed in the 100m.
Pitched in alongside the controversial Dwain Chambers, Coull didn’t let that bother him and ran a season’s best of 10.81 to place fourth – just missing out on progression to the semi-finals.
He also ran in the 200m on the Saturday and recorded 21.81 in his heat to come sixth.
Stacey Downie was another in action on Friday evening in the 100m. She ran 12.41 to come sixth in her heat and, like Coull, she also ran on Saturday over the 200m and was again sixth with a time of 25.20.
In the 400m hurdles, Francis Smith didn’t get it right on the day and came third in his heat with 53.03, failing to progress to the final. As a result, he ran in the 200m where he came sixth in his heat with 22.10.
Pitreavie’s women were in action on Sunday at the Scottish Women’s League in Wishaw, where they finished fifth.
After making the journey back from the UK national trials, Stephanie Walker shrugged off any tiredness to take a double victory in the senior women’s age group.
In the 100m hurdles she comfortably won with a time of 14.65 and then smashed both her personal best and the opposition in the 200m, which she won in a time of 25.23.
Lucy Crookston also had a successful day, recording two personal bests in the 400m hurdles – in which she clocked 68.34 to come fourth – and in the 400m flat where she placed third in a time of 62.74.
In the senior throwing events, Mhairi Porterfield was in excellent form.
She won the hammer A string with 52.83 metres, came second in the javelin A string with 31.15 metres, second in the shot putt A string with 12.24 metres and third in the discus A string with 35.02 metres.
New recruit Kirsty Wilson was second in the hammer B string with 39.91 metres, first in the shot putt B string with 9.38 metres and third in the discus B string with 24.99 metres.
In the javelin, club stalwart Norma Bruce won the B string with 26.45 metres.
In the under-17 age group Pranita Ghate jumped her best for the club in the long jump with 4.74 metres to come second in the A string.
Olivia Clark was third in the B string with 4.17 metres and fourth in the 80m hurdles with 14.47 seconds.
In the under-15 age group Kathryn Pennel won the 800m with a time of 2:21.66.
Over the longer distance of 1500m Michaela Brown was third in 5:04.32, achieving a new personal best.
Gerelle Pasquin was third in the shot putt A string with 9.75 metres and in the B string Kirsty Armstrong was also third with 7.12 metres.
In the 100m Kirsty Armstrong ran 13.47 for fifth place in the A string and after a long injury lay-off, Jessica Barrows made a welcome return to competitive action with third place in the B string with 13.65.
l CARNEGIE Harrier David Simpson clocked the club’s fastest time this century for a half marathon after triumphing in Ayrshire.
He won Sunday’s Girvan half-marathon in an impressive new course record of 69.51, the eighth fastest half marathon time by a Harrier since 1991!
Ros Alexander was first lady at Sunday’s Crieff 10K Race in 41.59.
This was her first race since the Edinburgh Marathon in May, where she placed second Scottish athlete.
Ian Stewart put in another excellent run, clocking 36.30, and finishing in third place (1st M50).
Ian Johnston ran 40.02 (3rd M50), coming in 12th place, and Marianne Young clocked 51.56 (145th).
Judy Taylor came second at the Alva Games Hill Race on Saturday, clocking a time of 26.52.
Sandy Bennett showed excellent endurance over the weekend, completing Lochaber AC’s Triple Hirple of three hill races in three days. On Saturday he came fifth overall at the 1500ft Meall an t-Suidhe Hill Race in 36.17.
On Sunday in the Half Ben Nevis Race, which involved a 2200ft climb over six miles, Sandy was 15th in 1.06.07.
Next was the Lochaber AC Cow Hill Race and he covered the two miles and 900ft race in 22.18, placing 12th.
The Graham Race 3.9-mile Memorial Race at Knockhill Racing Circuit will now take place on Thursday 21st August and not the day before as previously promoted.
The race will start at 7.30pm and will involve three complete circuits of the racing track. All entries (£4 SAL; £6 non-SAL) will be taken on the night with £1 for each entry being donated to charity. Awards will be presented in all categories.
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