North Ayrshire athletes shine at National Indoor Championships

Mar 22 2013 by Eric McGowan, Irvine Herald

There was triumph and tears as North Ayrshire Athletics Club enjoyed a successful National Indoor Championships at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena last week.

Alexandros Paparakis finally broke his nearly man tag, winning silver in the shot putt with a Personal Best throw of 10.53m.

Ellie Fulton also scooped silver in the high jump and finished fourth in the 60m hurdles and fifth in the long jump.

But the performance of the weekend came from Clare McLaughlin who, after a heavy fall in the hurdles and a few tears, went straight into the High Jump and increased her personal best by a massive 20cm with a jump of 1.25m.

Connie Frearson also continued her return to form by finishing fifth in the 60m final with a seasons best of 8.33secs. She followd that up with a SB of 27.67 in the 200m.

Kyle Jackson performed well, reaching the 200m semi-finals, equalling his PB of 26.20s along the way.

Another PB came from Shona Blades in the 800m who ran 2.27.96 knocking a massive five seconds off her previous time.

Three of the club’s athletes were also honoured with Ayrshire awards this month. Sean Gibson was named U17 Age Champion, Holly Morgan U17 Champion while Ellie Fulton was named U15 Champion and Ayrshire Junior Athlete of the Year.

Full list of times & distances:

U14. Clare McLaughlin. 60m 9.60s PB; 60m hurdles DNF; High Jump 1.25m PB; Jody Quirk. 60m. 10.39 PB; Long jump 2.72m; Phoebe Lewis. 200m 33.9s; 60m hurdles 12.6s; Long jump 3.28; Amy Rhodes. 60m 9.20s PB; 200m 30.65s PB; Jamie Nix. 60m 9.37s; 60m hurdles 12.98s PB; Long jump 4.02m PB; U16. Ellie Fulton. 60m hurdles 9.60s; High jump 1.55m; Long jump 4.51m; Kyle Jackson. 200m 26.20s PB; U18. Shona Blades 800m 2.27.96m PB; Simone Sherry. 1500m 5.45.73; Holly Morgan. Shot Putt 9.41m; Fraser Mackie. 400m 55.24s; Alexandros Paparakis. Shot Putt 10.53m PB; U20. Connie Frearson. 60m 8.33s SB; 200m 27.67s SB; Gordon Wilson. 400m 53.81s

■ North Ayrshire Athletics Club can be contacted via there Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SportNaac.