INVERCLYDE Athletic Club’s under-17 boys quartet of Drew McIntyre, Andrew Hunter, Christopher Tanoh and Ciaran McMillan celebrated national awards in the 4x200m relay indoor championships.

The Scottish National Relay Championships were incorporated into the Sainsbury’s International Indoor match at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, with Inverclyde AC having two teams representing the area alongside over 600 young athletes.

The heats were held in the morning, with the added advantage of the finals being contested during the full international programme.

First up were the girls, with Morgan McColl, Samantha Williams, Georgia Morrison and Jennifer Lynn taking to the track in the under-15 girls’ race. Morgan set the team off with a solid start before handing to Samantha, who broke after the top bend with a favourable position.

Georgia Morrison had the third leg where she reduced the gap on the athletes in front to allow Jennifer Lynn to hunt down the leaders on the anchor leg, crossing the line just a breadth away from a qualifying spot.

In the under-17 boys, Drew McIntyre was set off in a tactical line-up for the local club and exploded into life, securing a front position before Andrew Hunter consolidated the position as new boy Christopher Tanoh held off the attacking teams on leg three, with Ciaran McMillan anchoring the team home to qualify for the final.

The boys had the added support of a full house, with the excitement rising as they stepped out just after the 60m and in the presence of world champion Richard Kilty.

Again Drew set the team off and dominated the back straight before darting ahead on the home straight to let Andrew stride the bend and break from the lanes to dictate the race from the front. With the competition queuing up behind, Christopher used his new talents to ensure he kept IAC in a prominent position. Ciaran had the pressure of the last leg and rose to the challenge as the Inverclyde support carried him down the back straight as he cruised around the last bend, hitting the final straight and carrying the area to a fantastic bronze position, the first in this boys’ age group.

For more information visit www.inverclydeac.co.uk