Sophie Thomas on her way to 100m Guest win and new Scottish U20 Record while representing GB Juniors (photo by Bobby Gavin)
*This is a quick report from the venue and intends to pick out some highlights by Scottish athletes. Report subject to checks and additions through Monday. Thanks for your patience.
Loughborough International Results
Match events wins, Personal Bests and a Scottish U20 record in the sprints were among the highlights for Scots at the Loughborough International.
The 68th staging of this traditional season curtain-raiser held attention for fully eight hours or more at the Paula Radcliffe Stadium.
When the dust settles, there will be plenty to reflect upon via performances from athletes picked for Scotland and a further seven selected to represent GB and NI U20.
One of those, Sophie Thomas, clocked a Scottish U20 Women’s Record for 100m in an early guest races.
In the Match itself, with Scotland up against GB Juniors, Wales, England and the hosts Loughborough, there were event wins for Ben MacMillan, Beth Ansell, Becca Scott and Matthew McKenna.
Arguably the best was saved for last. Ben was still in third at the bell in the Men’s 3000m but came through to win well in 8:21.65 after a first kilometre of 2.59.
‘I am so proud to represent Scotland with a Senior vest on the track for the first time,’ said the Falkirk Victoria Harriers athlete.
‘I am really patriotic about it and I am off to the United States to support Scotland in the World Cup.’
Sophie Thomas was quick off the mark early in the programme with superb 100m Guest Race win at 11.49 seconds.
That’s a new Scottish U20 Record and also inside the qualifying standard asked for by British Athletics for World Juniors.
Sophie later clocked 23.41 for third in the 200m as Emma Clark represented Scotland. Whitemoss AAC athlete Emma was rewarded for her good run with 23.87 PB.
In the match events, the first win came in the Women’s Ambulant Long Jump. Becca Scott leapt to a new PB of 5.23m on a day when she also represented GB and NI Para Futures over 200m.
Nick Percy followed that with yet another win in this fixture via the Men’s Discus Match event.
Nick threw 60.09m this time and was pleased to welcome young Scot, Jacob McKinlay, to the ‘podium’. Third-placed Jacob threw a PB of 56.63m as he represented GB Juniors.
‘It is good to see young discus throwers coming through and nice to meet Jacob today – I have already told me I am happy to help him in any way I can,’ said Nick.
There were second places in the Match for Kirsty Law in the discus (50.14m) and Chris Bennett in the hammer (66.87m).
Callum Newby took third in the Men’s Long Jump at 7.21m.
Matthew McKenna was another Scottish winner in the Men’s 800m. Selected for Scotland, Matthew was then picked by GB Juniors and won the race in 1:52.17.
Jordan Phillips, called up for Scotland, took third place in the Match.
Beth Ansell won the Women’s Mile in fine style. The Edinburgh AC athlete took that one with a PB run of 4:44.19 and the victory looked certain from the bell after Beth broke clear
‘The team captain, Taylah Paterson, mentioned on Saturday night in our meeting the importance of taking your opportunity and not taking a Scotland vest for granted,’ said Beth.
‘I took that mindset into the race. It was my first time on the track for Scotland and while you never know how the first race of the season might go I felt good and am very happy with that.’
Adam Brown was in contention in the Gandy Mile for most of the race and finished third in the match with PB run of 4:06.12 for the Aberdeen AAC athlete.
Mhairi Patience finished strongly for third in the Women’s 400m Hurdles with 59.95 seconds.
Bradley Francis went one better with a second place finish in the Men’s 400m Hurdles. Bradley clocked 52.11 seconds.
Hannah Cameron was another match second place in the Women’s 800m. After racing in Manchester the previous day, Hannah’s ‘championship scenario’ weekend delivered a solid run as she contested strongly for much of the race before a third place finish (second in Match).
In the field, there were Pole Vault appearances for GB Juniors for Charis Crawford and Nathan Mobbs and Scotland appearances in the javelin for Izzy McHattie and Greg Millar.
There were Triple Jump appearances for Scotland for Bera Ajala and Silver Nwabuzor. There was a first Senior vest for Leanna Elliot in the Women’s High Jump.
Scotland men were fourth in the 4x100m Relay. The quartet of Owen Murphy, Struan Linton, Cameron Tindle and Stewart Greenhalgh clocked 40.86.
Our Mixed 4x400m Relay featured Bradley Francis, Hannah Cameron, Greg Kelly and Lorne Kerr.
Photos by Bobby Gavin
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Tags:
Becca Scott, Ben MacMillan, Beth Ansell, Loughborough International, Loughborough International 2026, Matthew McKenna, Nick Percy, Sophie Thomas