IN-FORM members of Pitreavie AAC produced another strong team effort to help Kingdom Athletic maintain top spot in the Upper Youth Development League Northern Premier Division.

Several club athletes travelled to Carlisle's Sheepmount Stadium on Sunday with Kingdom, a composite of under-17 and under-20 competitors from Pitreavie, Fife AC and Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, for the league's second match.

And the efforts of those from Pitreavie in bagging 16 victories, 11 second- and 11 third-place finishes helped them consolidate their win in their league opener by finishing a close second overall, keeping them top of the overall standings ahead of Team Edinburgh.

Sarah Coutts was one of six athletes who enjoyed a victory double, sealing top spot with well-controlled tactical runs in the under-17 800 metres (2:24.83) and the 1500m (4:59.04).

Bethany McAndrew, who also placed second in the under-20 long jump with 5.17 metres, enjoyed a dominant win in the under-20 100m hurdles with a time of 14.94 seconds, as well as success in the B-string high jump with a clearance of 1.35m.

The under-20 110m hurdles (15.66) and B-string javelin (21.28m) were claimed by Cameron Keelan as Rachel Thomson won the B under-20 100m hurdles (15.94) and javelin (13.21m), while Ben Knowles won the under-17 triple jump with a best of 11.68m, before taking his place in the victorious 4x400m relay quartet that crossed the line in 3:37.55, seven seconds ahead of their closest challengers.

Knowles' training partner, Beth Aitken, matched his performance by winning the women's under-17 triple jump with 10.29m before helping the 4x300m relay team to success with a time of 2:53.62.

More Pitreavie victories were claimed by Jade Hutchison (under-200m, 25.22); Tia Henry (under-20 B-string long jump, 4.71m); Abbie Chisholm (under-17 B 100m, 13.15); and Isla Steel (under-17 long jump, 5.13m, PB).

Alistair Moriarty, with a PB of 51.39, claimed second place in the under-20 B 400m, and the 4x400m (3:43.37) and 4x100m (44.33), the latter of which also included Keelan.

Keelan himself was second in the under-20 400m hurdles (59.22) and also claiming runners-up spots were Ryan Woods (under-20 high jump, 1.90m, PB); Knowles (under-17 B 400m, 52.71); Sam Turnbull (under-17 high jump, 1.75m and B-string triple jump, 9.49m); Aitken (under-17 300m, 43.48); Isla Steel (80m hurdles, 12.32); and debutant Lynn Harvey (under-17 B triple jump, 8.48m, PB).

Third-place finishes, adding further points to the Kingdom total, came from Moriarty in the under-20 B 100m (11.73); Keelan in the under-20 triple jump (10.22m); Sean Stewart in the under-20 discus (22.32m); Sinead Steel in the under-20 B 100m (13.31), B 200m (27.18) and the high jump (.145m); debutant Conor Gourley in the under-17 1500m steeplechase (5:04.77); and Isla Steel in the 80m hurdles (12.32) and javelin (33.61m, PB).

Chisholm, who smashed her PB to finish fourth in the under-17 300m hurdles, and Aitken also picked up third spot in the under-17 women's 4x100m (50.75), while Moriarty claimed fourth and a best of 24.55m in the under-20 javelin.

The end result saw Kingdom finish with 675 points, just four behind Team Edinburgh, in second place and moved them on to 11 in the overall standings, with Edinburgh second on nine and Glasgow third with eight.

Allan commented: "It was another strong team effort with great spirit shown by all the athletes.

"The team battled to the end and gave their all, and can go home very pleased with their efforts."

The third match of the league, in Manchester, is set to take place on June 30.