MORAG MILLAR of Central AC gave it her all in the Scottish Short Course Cross Country Championships, but had to settle for silver medal in a hard fought contest over the flat and fast Lanark racecourse circuit.

There were medals for Ben MacMillan in the Under 17 race and Scott Brember took the top master’s medal but otherwise it was a thinner day for the Central trophy cabinet.

In the senior women’s race, Morag pushed the pace for the majority of the 4000 metre race, whittling the lead group down to first four contenders and then just two over the last kilometre.

Unfortunately, that second runner was Jemma Reekie, who sat in behind Morag for the bulk of the race and then had a kick left for the last 100 metres that Morag could not match.

Morag took silver medal with 13mins 9 secs. She led in a squad of young Central runners, Rebecca Craig 30th 14.42, Lauren McCulloch 45th 15.02, Natalie Stewart 56th 15.29 and Cliona Ferguson 115th, 17.12.

The Senior Mens four-kilometre race saw Alastair Hay lead home Central’s effort in seventh place recording 11min 48secs and with Scott Green in a close up tenth (11.51), Dale Colley (27th; 12.16) and Matthew Sutherland (38th; 12.26) Central had to settle for fourth team spot on the day.

Scott MacDonald (39th; 12.28) made an all too infrequent appearance while Murray MacLarty (51st; 12.38) and Scott Brember (52nd; 12.39) ensured the yellow and blue vests were to the fore.

Scott took the championship medal for top over 40 runner.

With some 470 race finishers there were further good runs from Donald Shaw (265th; 15.01), Iain Dunsmore (317th; 15.31), David Eckersley (327th; 15.43), Charles Graham-Marr (328th) also 15.43, Ben Noad (348th; 16.02) and Colin Alexander (16.26).

Ben MacMillan has had a great start to the Cross Country Season and here picked up an individual Bronze medal, covering the three-kilometre course in 9min 47secs only six seconds adrift of the winner, Kane Elliott the Falkirk Victoria Harrier athlete who is the current Under 18 1500metres European Champion.

Ben led home Central team mates Lewis Dow (31st; 10.40), Daniel Bruce (64th; 11.24) and Kyle Howie (65th; 11.25) with the team in seventh overall.

Central’s under 15 girl squad faced a fast and furious 2000 metre course through Summer MacLean (54th, 7.44), Naomi Howlieson (62nd, 7.52), Anna Buchanan 76th, 8.13) and Anna Reid (85th 8.23).

Elizabeth Thompson was sole under 17 lady for Central running the 3000metres strongly to record 33rd place in 13.06.

The Under 15 Boys were faced by the same 2kilometre challenge and it was Cameron MacMillan who led home Central’s challenge in 21st with a time of 6min 27secs.

Cameron Kerr showed improvement in 29th with 6.31 leading in Euan Docherty (66th; 7.00), Euan Campbell (74th; 7.13), Jack Campbell (92nd; 7.33) and Ross Lawrie (94th; 7.34) and the team finishing in eighth