A SQUAD of 46 young Helensburgh athletes took part in the first Scottish Athletics Indoor League match of the season – and more than half set new personal best times or distances at the event.

Among the leaders in their events at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow were Josh Bain, who set new PBs in all three of his events at under-17 level.

Josh secured third place in the high jump with a best performance of 1.70 metres, and finished in the same position in the 400m track race, beating his personal best time by 1.5 seconds on the way, as well as recording a fifth place finish in the 60m hurdles.

His under-17 team-mate Chris Wilson came fourth in the same sprint hurdle race, setting a new best time of 7.76 seconds.

In the under-15 events, Robert Court extended his shot-put PB by nearly a metre, securing second place with a best throw of 9.23m, while Lexy Kenhard was third in the girls’ 60m hurdles.

Transferring their cross-country prowess into the dry and warmth of indoor conditions, the under-17 duo of Jenny Scott and Iona Wilson took fifth place in the 300m race and fourth in the 800m respectively.

Alex Brown caught the eye in the under-13 events: though his best long jump effort wasn’t a personal best, it was still enough to earn him first place, 20cm clear of the rest of the field, while he also won his heat of the 60m sprint.

Other top five performances came from Angus Ritchie (U11 60m), Holly Kenhard (U13 60m hurdles and high jump), Ruper Keating (U13 shot-put), Lexy Kenhard (third place in the U15 high jump) and Findlay Fleming (fifth in the boys’ U15 high jump), while at U17 level Jenny Scott was third in the 800m race and Chris Wilson fourth in the 200m.

Other PBs were recorded by Holly Kenhard (60m); Maddie Rooney (800m); Eva Rooney (200m and long jump); Evelyn Dennison (300m and 60m hurdles); Cameron Williams (800m); William Scott (200m); Robert Court (60m); Sophie Michie (60m and shot put); Mirran Callaghan (shot put); Katie Flett (200m); and Alastair McCartney (800m and shot put).

Another notable performance came from the youngest Helensburgh competitor, Madison Bain, who was taking part in her first ever match and tackled all her events well, never being overwhelmed by the big setting of the Emirates.

After all the events and placings were added up and age group team points and placings were tallied, the Helensburgh under-17 boys’ team was placed second of 21 teams, with the U17 girls’ A team fifth out of 27 and the U13 boys’ A team fifth of 22.

A club spokeswoman said: “The next indoor event at the Emirates is on January 5, and we are looking forward to seeing the athletes continue to grow in confidence and compete well at this large event.”