ATHLETES with Central AC are celebrating a triple podium result at the Scottish National Cross Country Relays.

The event was again held on the traditional course in Cumbernauld in excellent conditions, and it was Central’s Senior Men who made it five wins in a row while Central’s Senior Ladies matched their second place of last year in a dramatic race.

Central’s over 50 women's team also secured silver, making it a hat-trick for the club.

The Senior Mens race of over 100 teams unfolded with Central’s Jamie Crowe running with some of Scotland’s top endurance athletes, finishing in a close up fourth place on the first leg, covering the 4000metres course in 11min 50secs.

Michael Wright’s excellent (12.16) contribution continued Central’s challenge to hand over a healthy lead to former Scottish Cross Country Champion Alastair Hay.

Alastair (11.51) showed his class as he continued to pull away from the rest of the field to give Olympian, Andrew Butchart a comfortable lead for the final leg.

Andrew was never under pressure as he extended the club’s lead to 84secs by the finish with the second fastest leg of the day (11.22).

Edinburgh University finished second and with Aberdeen AAC in third and a clean sweep for the East of Scotland teams.

For Central Senior Ladies, winning the Silver medal took determined running by the quartet, finished off by an exciting and impressive last leg by Morag Maclarty who took many plaudits with the fastest time of the day.

With the Ladies now matching the men with four legs compared to three last year, Central required Lyndsay Morrison to return to competition earlier than she would have wanted after a prolonged layoff.

Lyndsay led off for Central with the task of keeping the team in contention and she fought hard to come to the changeover in 16th place covering the 4000metre course in 15mins 16secs but with a significant gap to the medal placings.

Fiona Thompson put in the fastest second leg time with her 14:14 taking the team forward to seventh.

Jennifer Wetton then pulled the team into a medal position with her 13:56 but with Edinburgh University and Victoria Park seemingly far distant with over a full minute’s gap to the next medal.

Morag set about closing the gaps taking the time back from both last leg leading pair and turning Bronze to Silver in the finishing straight, bringing the biggest cheer of the day.

Morag’s lap was 13:18, overall fastest lap of the day to return a time of 56.44 for the four with Edinburgh University taking Gold with 56.28 and Victoria Park Glasgow in third also recording 56.44.

Central’s second Ladies team were led off by Claire Houston whose 16:43 brought the team to changeover in 32nd place.

Kim Timmins demonstrated prospects with a 16:13 to move the team to 23rd.

Eleanor Hanson as a first year under 20 put in a great performance to 21st place with 16:43 with Jodie Currie keeping the team moving forward with 20th place and 17:42 and overall time of 67:21.

Central’s Over 50 team also took a superb Silver medal through Patricia Milne (17:20), Jane Waterhouse (18:32) and Mary Kerr (19:34).

Central’s Mens B team of Aidan Thompson (12.27), Conan McCaughey (12.19), Cameron Milne (12.35) and Alex Hendry (12.22) were competitive throughout finishing in a fine sixth place overall less than a minute from the medals.

On the day. all of Central’s runners showed true competitive resolve perfectly reflected by the Over 50 team of Charles Graham-Marr (15.28), David Eckersley (14.26) and Hugh Kerr (16.30) finishing sixth in that category.

Central’s top Veterans team of Jans Subke (15.42), Ewan Jack (14.27), Colin Alexander (15.42) and Scott Brember (13.51) finished in a highly respectable ninth in that category.

The team of Tom Watson, Fraser Logan, Jamie Wastling and Euan Brownlee produced another fine showing but a mix-up with results doesn’t allow for the times to published for these runners.

Simon Barlow ran 16.48 backed up by Kenny Hislop (18.04), Sandy MacLarty (21.45) and Mark Logie. Cameron Campbell (18.36) led off yet another Over 50 team along with Allan Gall (18.42) and John Millar (20.47).

Liam McCabe (16.52), David Lindsay (14.31), Will Hensman (14.06) and Ian Dunsmore (16.02) stuck well to their task to finish 67th in the Senior Mens category.