DISCUS thrower Kirsty Law won a record eleventh Scottish national title at the FPSG National Senior Championships having dashed back from the European Championships in Berlin to make the weekend’s event at Grangemouth.
Also in winning form after a speedy return from Berlin was Chris Bennett in the hammer and Kirsten McAslan in the 400m hurdles.
Law’s victory, with a throw of 53.08m, was even more impressive considering her struggle to just make the event at all. After competing in Berlin on Thursday morning in the heats of the discus competition, the 31-year-old embarked on an epic journey in order to make it back to Scotland in time for the Scottish Championships.
‘Flights from Berlin were fully booked so I ended up taking a train to Hamburg and flying from there to Edinburgh,” she said. “I actually made it to the hotel in Grangemouth at 1am on Saturday morning.”
Law has talked in recent months of her thoughts about retiring but an impressive season, which included her inclusion in the GB team for Berlin, has almost certainly persuaded her to put those plans on hold - for now at least.
“I’ve just about decided not to retire,” she admitted. “I threw my PB in 2012 and I don’t really want to retire without bettering that again. If I do go again, then it will be for two years and I will keep working hard to try and improve. I have enjoyed this season and that’s a big thing for me after so many years in the sport.”
Bennett’s throw of 70.75m was enough for him to take the Scottish title but was well short of his season’s best of 75.11m. And McAslan’s switch from the 400m flat to the 400m hurdles continued successfully, with the 24-year-old clocking 58.71 seconds to take the title.
Neil Gourley won his first-ever Scottish senior title with victory in the 1500m in a time of 3 minutes 48.86 seconds, just ahead of up-and-coming talent Sol Sweeney.
The 100m titles were won by Alec Thomas and Katy Wyper with the latter defending her title with a run of 11.88 seconds and Thomas winning his first senior outdoor title in 10.85 seconds after a photo-finish with Praise Olatoke.
“It’s is a fantastic feeling,’ said Thomas. “I’ve brought my PB down this year to 10.60 and (this win) adds to what has been a good season.”
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