DURING the opening day's athletics of the 149th New Year Sprint, the Borders claimed a one-two-and-three in the 800 metres final at Meadowmill.
Fraser Neil from Kelso held off the late challenge from training partner Matthew Fleming and Innerleithen's Dean Whiteford to break the tape at Meadowmill.
The 24-year-old former sprint champion admitted it was a tough step up in distance.
Fraser, who is coached by Addie Gray, told us: “This was the first half mile I’ve done since I was a youth and it was really tough.
“I train with Matthew, who is a really good runner, and I know Dean would finish well so I went for it coming off the bend.
“I’m really chuffed to have won.”
In the youths' sprint final Innerleithen's Louis Whyte had to settle for silver behind Maddison Murdoch from Larkhall.
The 11-year-old Leithenburn athlete, who is coached by John Motion, said: “It was a close final and I don’t think I was far behind the winner at the end.”
Lilliesleaf's Finn Douglas finished inches further back in third.
The 13-year-old, who is coached by Alan White at TLJT, said: “This is my first season so I’m just happy to be competing in the final.”
Eve Rathie from Leithenburn and Angus Bryce from TLJT both took minor places in the close final.
Eve and her brother, Luke, also finished in fifth and sixth for the Leithenburn club in the final of the Under 13s 200 metres.
Fellow Leithenburn athletes Louis Whyte and Stevan Nightingale claimed third and fourth, respectively, behind winner Harrison Morrison and runner-up Maddison Murdoch.
Finn Douglas claimed silver in the final of the 200 metres for 13- to 16-year-olds.
The TLJT flyer was just held off by Edinburgh's Calum Holmes.
Kelso's Ben Lyall finished well to claim third.
Moorfoot athlete Craig Angus was given a mission impossible from his backmark of 65 metres in the youths’ 800 metres.
Despite eating up the ground over the two laps the teenager couldn’t get close to eventual winner, Skye Marshall from Pitreavie, and had to settle for fifth.
Long-time leader Matty Fleming from Kelso crossed the line in fourth, behind runner-up Harris Morrison of Inverclyde and third-placed Hannah Steel from Lothian.
Peeblesshire pair Stacey Downie and Rianna Stericks had to settle for second and third, respectively, in the final of the Ladies 90 metres handicap.
Former Scottish champion Downie couldn't quite reel in Carlisle's Megan Busby-Bell.
And Leithenburn teenager Stericks was just a few inches further back in the bronze medal position.
Bill Hutchison was eventually named as the winner of the 90 metres following a lengthy deliberation by the judges.
The Lasswade flyer broke the tape on the dip ahead of Inverclyde's Mark McLachlan and Carlisle's Megan Busby-Bell.
Malcom McPhail from Ayr, who was fourth in the final of the open 90 metres, won the final of the veterans' 90 metres.
Cameron Smith of Central AC took second Durham's Paul Donaghy in third.
Results:
90 metres handicap
1st William Hutchison, Lasswade AC
2nd Mark McLachan, Inverclyde AC
3rd Megan Busby-Bell, Carlisle A
4th Malcolm McPhail, Ayr
5th Max Leslie, Edinburgh
6th Cameron Smith, Central AC
90 metres veterans handicap
1st Malcolm McPhail, Ayr
2nd Cameron Smith, Central AC
3rd Paul Donaghy, Durham City
4th Dougie Donald, Oakham
5th John Fleming, Kelso
6th Martin Leyland, Shetland AC
90 metres ladies handicap
1st Megan Busby-Bell, Carlisle A
2nd Stacey Downie, Edinburgh AC
3rd Rianna Sterricks, Leithenburn AC
4th Philippa Robertson, Hawick
5th Eleanar Briggs, Inverness H
800 metres open handicap
1st Fraser Neil, Kelso
2nd Matthew Fleming, Kelso
3rd Dean Whiteford
4th Georgia Morrison, Inverclyde AC
5th Albert Eland, Broughton
6th Kobe Stevens, Peebles
90 metres youths handicap
1st Maddison Murdoch, Larkhall
2nd, Louis Whyte, Leithenburn
3rd Finn Douglas, TLJT
4th Harris Morrison, Inverclyde
5th Eve Rathie, Leithenburn
6th Kate Dunwoodie, Shetland AC
7th Zarah Smith, Peebles
8th Angus Bryce, TLJT
200 metres youths under 13
1st Harris Morrison, Inverclyde AC
2nd Maddison Murdoch, Larkhall
3rd Louis Whyte, Leithenburn AC
4th Stevan Nightingale, Leithenburn AC
5th Eve Rathie, Leithenburn AC
6th Luke Rathie, Leithenburn AC
200 metres youths 13 to 16 years
1st Calum Holmes, Edinburgh AC
2nd Finn Douglas, TLJT
3rd Ben Lyall, Kelso
4th Sol Stewart VP Glasgow
5th Katie Dunwoodie Shetland AC
6th Angus Bryce TLJT
800 metres youths handicap
1st Skye Marshall, Pitreavie AC
2nd Harris Morrison, Inverclyde AC
3rd Hannah Steel, Lothian RC
4th Matty Fleming, Kelso
5th Craig Angus, Moorfoots
6th Patrick Doyle, Pitreavie AC
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