Bank of Scotland National Junior Championships - Grangemouth - 2007

Juniors earn a full set of medals at Grangemouth

CAITHNESS athletes returned with a full set of medals from the Bank of Scotland National Junior Championships in Grangemouth at the weekend.

The event provided a second national success for talented all-rounder Sam O'Kane, from Halkirk. He struck gold in the under-15 discus with a throw of 36.13 metres – several metres short of his personal best but comfortably ahead of his nearest rival on Sunday.

The title in his specialist discipline follows the Scottish schools' age-group championship and the Celtic Games bronze the 14-year-old won earlier in the summer.

Sam had a hectic schedule at Grangemouth, taking part in four events. His leap of 1.55 metres gave him fourth place in the high jump, while he finished sixth in both the javelin and the shot putt with throws of 33.91 and 10.15 metres respectively.

The previous week, Sam had put in a very creditable performance in the discus at the junior UK athletics championships at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield. His throw of 35.66 metres was good enough to take fifth place.

Sam was accompanied to Grangemouth by three fellow members of Caithness Amateur Athletics Club.

Under-13 field athlete Shannon Eyers, from Halkirk, came home with two medals for her efforts.

She won a silver in the discus for her hurl of 15.09 metres and bronze in the javelin, in which her 19.03-metre throw was a personal best.

In the under-17 championships, Graeme Taylor, from Thurso, beat his personal best by five seconds in his heat in the 1500 metres. His time of 4.27.03 meant he just missed out on earning a place in the final by one second.

He also beat his previous personal best in the 800m, coming home in 2.12.25 min.

Craig Spargo, from Janetstown, finished fifth in the under-17 shot putt with a throw of 11.07 metres.

CAAC stalwart Malcolm Clasper looked after the youngsters along with fellow coach and club vice chairman Davie Eyers.

Geoff Wightman, chief executive of Scottish athletics, said: ''Congratulations to all the athletes, coaches and clubs who supported two days of great competition in challenging weather conditions.

''This was the first junior track-and-field championship under the new Scottishathletics contract with the Bank of Scotland and the last one before a decision is made on a possible Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Our talented young athletes will be ready to deliver on all of the challenges that lie ahead.'

Karen McCall, Bank of Scotland sponsorship executive, said: ''It was great to see so many young athletes compete, many achieving outstanding results despite the poor conditions. We hope that these athletes will build on their success and go on to achieve much more in the sport.''

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