INVERCLYDE Athletic Club made a winning start to the Scottish Men’s League in Aberdeen with a number of athletes claiming top position in their events.

Mark Magee got the ball rolling with an excellent series of high jumps. Mark launched himself over a new best height. 

Mark then followed this up with a victory in the 400m hurdles.

Joining Mark in winning, Scott McCluckie used a tactical approach to his 400m hurdles as he strode down the back straight before settling into his stride pattern and moving through the field. 

Approaching the last hurdle, Scott injected pace which saw him pull clear of the opposition to claim victory in the first event on the track.

Drew McIntyre put his marker for the season down in the 100m with a sub 11-second run to record the fastest 100m run of the day.

Drew exploded from his blocks, accelerating into top gear as he passed the 30m mark clear of the chasing athletes.

He then held his form through the finish line to stop the clock in the 10-second frame. Callum Hunter did the 800m, 1,500m double and claimed fine victories in both.

In the 800m, Callum hit the front and as the bell sounded for the last lap he increased his pace, creating a small gap which he held until the back straight.

With over 200m to go, Callum pulled clear to gain his first victory of the day.

In the 1,500m Callum’s challengers clearly didn’t learn from his dominant 800m and let him dictate the pace over the first few laps.

Despite a brief challenge to his lead, Callum hit the back straight and burst to life, running clear to record an impressive victory and the double.

Robert Graham was the day’s top jumper, firstly on the long jump where Robert used his experience to hit his run-up well and he propelled himself well over the 6m mark to claim massive points for the local club. 

In the triple jump - commonly known as the hop, skip, jump - Robert nailed the three phases as only he can before a massive jump into the sand witnessed another IAC athlete at the top of the podium with a jump just shy of 14m.

In the 400m flat race Inverclyde had high hopes, with Mark Holliman and Andrew Hunter the athletes elected to contest the long sprint.

First up Mark hit the front soon after the start and was ahead with 250m to go. 

A strong showing around the final bend and a relaxed last 100m carried Mark through the line first in his first match representing the club.

Andrew, famed for his 400m strategies, caused confusion among his opposition by holding back over the first half of the race before having the confidence to increase pace on the last bend.

As others tired, Andrew stalked them down on the home straight to cross the line first with another fine display of tactical running.

Ryan Neilson continued his improvement over the sprints with a new best over the 100m before finding extra speed and strength on the home straight of the 200m which saw him awarded with his first sub 24-second run.

The 4x100m relay quartet of Drew McIntyre, Ryan Neilson, Craig Eaglesham and Mark Magee lived up to their billing with secure changeovers to ensure top points. 

Thanks go to the club officials Gerry Gaffney, Andy McIntyre and Matthew Thomson for officiating and team management.