{"id":120220,"date":"2026-05-09T19:24:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T19:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/09\/linwood-national-opener-good-place-to-start-and-few-thoughts-on-those-abroad-too-scottish-athletics\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T19:24:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T19:24:47","slug":"linwood-national-opener-good-place-to-start-and-few-thoughts-on-those-abroad-too-scottish-athletics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/09\/linwood-national-opener-good-place-to-start-and-few-thoughts-on-those-abroad-too-scottish-athletics\/","title":{"rendered":"Linwood National Opener good place to start – and few thoughts on those abroad, too – Scottish Athletics"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Saturday 9th May 2026<\/p>\n

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Nikki Manson on way to big leap in the Women\u2019s Long Jump at Linwood (photo by Bobby Gavin)<\/strong><\/p>\n

*Report subject to further further scrutiny and amendments. Please bear with us.<\/em><\/p>\n

Results from Linwood<\/a><\/p>\n

It is often the nature of Scottish athletics \u2013 the sport, not the governing body \u2013 that good performances, inspiration and feelgood factors don\u2019t always all occur on the same day at the same venue.<\/p>\n

Saturday kind of felt that way at the 4J National Opener<\/strong> with the event geared to give early season opportunity to Senior, U20 and U18 athletes as the Districts moves to younger age groups.<\/p>\n

But just walking into the Linwood venue felt appropriate as overnight news from America included a Kilbarchan AAC club record from Oliver Patton<\/strong> for men\u2019s 1500m<\/p>\n

Oliver clocked 3:38.1 but almost all of his career has been honed in the Linwood track that hosted the National Opener.<\/p>\n

Others starring in the United States currently like Brodie Young, Rebecca Grieve<\/strong> and Jamie Phillips<\/strong> followed a very similar route on our event pathway and were no strangers to District events in May.<\/p>\n

In Belfast, there was a stunning 7:43 run for 3000m by Henry McLuckie<\/strong> that is second best all-time on the Scottish Men\u2019s list.<\/p>\n

+++<\/p>\n

Brodie\u2019s 45.24 is third best all-time Scottish Men 400m and a Glasgow 2026 and European Champs qualifying standard. Rebecca\u2019s latest 51.78 is eighth best all-time Scottish Women 400m. Jamie\u2019s 1:45.61 PB is a Glasgow 2026 qualifying standard.<\/em><\/p>\n

+++<\/p>\n

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Photo by Bobby Gavin<\/strong><\/p>\n

New Mexico duo Brodie and Rebecca look contenders for a possible Team Scotland Mixed 4x400m Relay at Glasgow 2026.<\/p>\n

So, looking ahead, it\u2019s only right we (the governing body) introduced this as a championship event for clubs at Linwood.<\/p>\n

A pilot last year allowed pals to ru together in teams of more than one club but clearly for a championship the teams featured athletes from the same club.<\/p>\n

If the turnout rate didn\u2019t quite match the entry then Central AC cannot be faulted for taking the win and laying down a marker for future editions. Well done to the quartet of Josh Scott, Niamh McKinlay, Jonathan Marshall <\/strong>and Rowan Clevely<\/strong> with 3:42.44.<\/p>\n