Athletics: Dunfermline Track and Field impress in Youth Development League

The opening two fixtures in Division Two of the competition, organised by UK Athletics, have been held and athletes with the club have impressed with a number of fine performances.

Both matches in the league, in which the club's under-13 and under-15 athletes have been competing, were held in Kilmarnock and they can reflect on two encouraging weekends of action.

In the first, the first year under-13s particularly impressed, with Lottie Thomas winning the 150 metres 'A' string in 20.82 seconds, and the 70m hurdles (13.75), both of which were PBs, while Murron Kane set new bests on her way to winning the 150m 'B' event (21.02), and placing second in the 75m 'A' string (11.05).

Elsewhere, Macy Wainwright secured first place in the javelin 'B' string, and fourth in the 1200m 'A' string, with PBs of 7.52m and 4:37.79 respectively, while an excellent debut from Luke Hamilton saw him finish second in the 75m 'B' race, and fourth in the 'B' long jump and 'A' 800m, two of which were new best efforts.

Alistair Rimmer, a recent new recruit, won the 'A' shot put with a PB of 5.89m, finished third in the javelin (8.79m, PB) and secured another best in the 'B' 150m (23.66), with other vital points secured by Sophie Jenkinson in the 'A' long jump (third, 3.45m); Finlay Gaughan in the 'B' long jump (second, 3.25m); Lucy Gibb in the 'B' 1200m, (5:01.02, season's best), and the 'A' javelin (fourth, 7.65m, PB); Gregor Fraser in the 'B' shot put (4.79m) and 'A' 1200m (second, 4:43.86, PB); Molly Robinson in the 'B' 70m hurdles (third, 17.47, PB); and Poppy Warner in the 'B' shot put (3.59m, PB) and the 'A' 800m (2:50.41).

Sophie Thomas headed the under-15 contingent, taking top spot in the 'A' 200m (26.51, PB), 300m (42.97, PB) and long jump (4.19m), and was supported by Amy Jenkinson, who was first in the 'B' 300m (46.32, PB), the 'A' 75m hurdles (12.36, PB), and the 'A' high jump (1.35m).

There were PBs, and second and fourth places respectively, for Milly MacKenzie in the 'B' 100m (14.36) and 200m (30.35); for Rachel Barnett in the 'B' 75m hurdles (first, 15.88) and the 'B' high jump (first, 1.30m), as well as a fourth place in the 'A' 1500m (05:41.86); and for Sarah Kane in the 'A' javelin (fourth, 14.81), who also achieved season's bests in the 'A' shot put (first, 7.47m), and the 'A' 100m (second, 13.76).

There was also success in the 4x100m relays, with the under-15 girls winning with a time of 54.00, and the under-13 girls placing second in 60.31.

Those results set Dunfermline Track and Field up for the second fixture, which saw them accumulate plenty of points once more.

In the boys' under-13 'B' 75m, Bradley Moffat ran a time of 11.48 to finish second, while also finishing third in the 'A' 150m (21.51, PB), and sixth in the 'A' long jump (3.40m), while Lottie Thomas ran a season's best of 11.65 in the 'A' 75m to finish second, with Sophie Jenkinson placing fourth in the 'B' string (11.72).

Luke Hamilton, who ran 11.52 to finish fifth in the 'A' 75m, won the 'B' 150m in a PB of 20.97, and finished third in the 'A' high jump (1.10m, PB), while Murron Kane was second in the 'A' 150m (21.36), third in the 'B' high jump (1.05m), and sixth in the 'A' shot put (4.30m), with Ana Stobie placing seventh in the 'B' 150m (23.45), and fourth in the 'B' 800m (3:10.35).

Alistair Rimmer was victorious in the 'B' shot put with a PB of 6.50m, as well as placing fifth in the 'A' 800m (3:02.48), and in the 'B' long jump (3.03m), while there were more excellent results in the under-15 age group.

Sophie Thomas (12.91) was first in the 'A' 100m, the 200m (26.67), and the long jump (4.23m), while Rachel Barnett (3.94m) won the 'B' string in the latter event, as well as placing third in the 'A' 1500m (5:41.34), and third in the 'B' high jump (1.25m).

A season's best for Caleb Munro saw him place seventh in the 'A' 150m (14.57), a feat that he matched in the 200m (29.35) to finish fourth, while Sarah Kane won the girls' 'B' 200m (30.22), as well as placing second in the 'A' shot put (7.20m), and fourth in the 'A' javelin (13.69).

Amy Jenkinson placed second in the 'A' 75m hurdles (12.52), first in the high jump (1.42m), and fourth in the 300m (46.58), while Milly MacKenzie was second in the 'B' 75m hurdles (17.19), third in the 'B' 300m (49.72), and fourth in the 'B' javelin (8.55).

Lottie Thomas (13.40, PB) won the under-13 girls' 'A' 70m hurdles, as well as placing second in the 'A' 75m (11.65), and fifth in the 'A' long jump (3.42m), with Sophie Jenkinson third in the 'B' 70m hurdles (16.30, PB), fourth in the 75m (11.72), and fifth in the 'A' high jump (1.05m).

Poppy Warner was fifth in the under-13 girls 'A' 800m (2:49.51), and seventh in the 'B' long jump with a PB of 2.80m, while the under-15 girls (54.13) won their 4x100m relay, with the under-13 girls (60.06) second in their race, and the under-13 boys finishing fourth (61.57).