ELATED athletes with Pitreavie AAC enjoyed a return home recently in what was their first event on their own track since lockdown.

With access to competitions limited in accordance with coronavirus guidelines issued by the Scottish Government and Scottish Athletics, more than 80 athletes took part in the club's fully COVID-compliant meet.

And, as well as enjoying success at other competitions organised by the sport's national governing body, there has been more good news for the club with three shortlisted nominations for the 4J Studios Scottish Athletics and JogScotland awards.

Nicola Moriarty, organiser of Pitreavie's first home-grown meet since lockdown, has been nominated for the Innovation award; Francis Smith has been shortlisted for Development Coach of the Year; and Rebecca Grieve is up for Under-17 Performer of the Year.

Nicola, who was supported by officials, parents and athletes, who ranged in age from under-nine to masters, was thrilled to welcome competitors back to Pitreavie Athletics Centre, commenting: "After getting the club up and running again, this felt like the next step in this new journey, and we hope to build on this in the winter months – restrictions permitting."

Away from their home track, Pitreavie athletes have been busy competing in events organised by Scottish Athletics, including the third 4J Studios Superteams competition.

Held virtually, it consisted of four challenges – a 75 metres sprint, a standing long jump, an overhead throw, and the long jump – and Pitreavie's under-13 girls excelled, claiming first place across the whole of Scotland with 1,362 points.

Laurie Hunter top-scored for not only the team but across the country as she accumulated an outstanding tally of 396 points, with Sophie Mackie placing sixth under-13 girl with 325, followed by Christy Cameron (seventh, 324) and Jenna Young (10th, 317).

They also achieved top places across a number of individual events, with Laurie Hunter, in a time of 10.70 seconds, claiming first in the 75m sprint as Christy Cameron (11.00) took joint third with Skye Smith, of Springburn Harriers, and Connie Sanderson, of Edinburgh AC.

The Pitreavie youngsters also dominated in the overhead throw, with Laurie (16.60m, 129 points), Anna Mitchell (13.60m, 101 points), Sophie (13.22m, 97 points) and Rachel Jennings (13.09m, 96 points) taking second to fifth places respectively.

They also gained the top-six places in the long jump, with Laurie (4.09m, 103 points) first; Sophie (4.02m, 100 points) and Jenna (3.71m, 88 points) claiming the top three slots.

The under-11 boys also gained six of the top 10 long jump places in their event, with Fraser Muir finishing top of the pile with an effort of 3.57m that saw him collect 84 points.

The under-11 boys' and girls' teams both had excellent results too, placing third with 1,114 and 1,042 points respectively.

Top-scoring for the boys was Fraser Muir with 296 points, followed by Murray Roy (293), Campbell Braid (271) and Brodie Simon (254), while the girls' points came courtesy of Isla Gourlay (280), Mia Fairweather (275), Esme Deacon (246) and Bonnie Seath (241).

A combination of open gradings events held on the same day as Superteams, plus races in Trafford, Manchester, also saw some superb performances in the Pitreavie under-15 age group.

Caleb McLeod is now ranked the number one under-15 male in Scotland over 300m, third in Scotland over 800m, and eighth in the UK over 800m, while Erin Macfarlane ranked the number one under-15 girl in Scotland over 800m, with Katie Thomson second and Lily Simon third over the same distance.