Schools athletics: Rare double is Cherry on the cake for Airdrie pupil

Ross Maxwell (Cathkin High School) enjoyed the perfect preparation for this month’s English Age Group Championships in Birmingham with a new personal best at the Scottish Schools’ Indoor Championships at the Kelvin Hall.

The 15-year-old was one of the youngest in the over-16 boys, but he took gold with a 6.56m long jump, which was not far outside the schools’ record.

“I moved to the Victoria Park Club, based at Scotstoun, just eight months ago and working with coach Colin Sinclair has made a big difference,” said Maxwell.

“I’m just coming back from an ankle injury, so to do so well today is great. My next event is the English AAA and, down there, I’ll be one of the oldest in the under-17s.”

Kathryn Christie (Aboyne Academy) has lost count of the number of medals she has won at School’s Championships. On her indoor swan song, the sixth-year pupil added a gold in the over 16 girls’ 60m (7.77secs).

A member of the Banchory Stonehaven Club, Kathryn is lucky to train at the Aberdeen Sports Village, which is one of the best facilities in Scotland.

Winner of the 200m at last year’s UK Schools’ Championships in Sheffield, she intends to continue her athletics at university and will be competing in this weekend’s Scottish Indoor Championships, also at the Kelvin Hall.

In the under-16 girls’ events, Airdrie’s Jill Cherry completed a rare double. The St Margaret’s High School 13-year-old won the 60m in 8.1 secs and the 200m in 26.49 secs.

A member of Shettleston Harriers she won a gold medal in the 200m at last year’s International Youth Games in Gothenburg in Sweden.

“Jill is still very young but she is a great sprint prospect,” said coach, Stephen Walker. “We have about 100 youngsters at Shettleston at the moment, which is very healthy – and about 75 per cent are girls.”

Tom Holligan (Firrhill High School), a member of Edinburgh Athletic Club, also completed an impressive double. Last year’s Commonwealth Youth Games 200m champion won both the 60m and 200m in the over-16 category.

In the 60m, his time of 6.98 was just 0.01 outside the schools’ record and he missed the 200m record by half a second in 22.61.

About 730 athletes from 167 schools took part in the Championships – and it is surprising that a sponsor hasn’t recognised the value of supporting an event that, next year, will move to the new National Indoor Sports Arena at Dalmarnock.