Scottish under-20 hurdles champion Jane Davidson brings her summer season to a close this weekend – just 16 days after it opened.
It may have been the shortest campaign of the 18-year-old Aberdeen AAC athlete’s life, but she has maximised her limited competitive opportunities by bagging some impressive performances.
The highlight, so far, came at Aberdeen Sports Village last Saturday when she recorded a 100m hurdles PB of 14.59secs, a time which ranks her ninth in this year’s UK junior rankings.
It also edged her closer to Catriona Pennet’s Aberdeen under-20 club record of 14.36, which has stood since 2002.
Davidson hopes to put more pressure on Pennet’s mark this evening when she competes in the last of the Scottishathletics 4J Studios open meetings at Meadowmill, East Lothian.
She said: “I had hoped to get my first hurdles race of the summer at Meadowmill last month, but the Aberdeen lockdown meant I couldn’t travel.
“So it was good to get one done last Saturday. I was happy with my time as it’s a PB, but I’ll be aiming to go faster this weekend. I’m also going to compete in the 100m and long jump.”
Davidson had started 2020 in outstanding form by winning the Scottish under-20 indoor 60m (7.68) and 60m hurdles (8.69) titles, securing PBs in both events.
Then lockdown came along and, although frustrated by the wholesale cancellation of events, she has not viewed the unusual circumstances in a wholly negative light.
She said: “I’d been running really well indoors at the start of year and I wanted to carry that form into the outdoor season. It was to have been my second year in the under-20s, but fortunately I’ll still have 2021 in that age group. It would have been worse if this was my final year.
“I was hoping to defend my Scottish 100m hurdles title and I was keen to see how I got on at the English championships, but none of that has been possible.
“Training has been different in lockdown. I even kept the neighbours entertained at one stage by doing my hurdles drills in the street. I suppose one advantage is that I’ve come out of it feeling stronger.
“Also, it’s the first time in many years I’ve had such a long break from competing, so there has been no juggling of schoolwork, training, travelling and racing. But I have definitely missed racing.”
Davidson, who will take a short break after this weekend’s trip to East Lothian before starting winter training, is also about to begin a new stage in her life.
She said: “I’m starting a sports science course at Aberdeen University. My flatmate will be Briagha Cook, who I have been competing against since we were 12. It will be good to have her around.”
