Tough test for Central athletes in first cross country league event
Published 20 Oct 2011 08:00
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Stirling University was the venue for the first of this season's East District Cross Country League meetings on Saturday with Central Athletic Club acting as hosts for what proved to be a testing course following recent heavy rain.
The Under 11 Boys and Girls race started proceedings with Jenny Walls well to the fore over the 1600 metres test as she finished fourth in an impressive 6min 1secs to lead the Central Girls Team to second place on the day with Heather Scott, also 6.01 in seventh and Skye Henderson (6.42) in 14th and Shamsa Scott-Angell also 6.42 in 16th. Rena Fleming came home in 23rd (7.03).
Top Central finisher in the Boys race was the determined Andrew Currie (22nd with 6.23) ahead of Matthew McGarva (29th; 6.38) and Connal Ferguson 34th; 6.52) as the Boys finished eighth team.
Impressive
Also looking impressive in the 2,800 metre Under 13 Race was Matthew Crawford, as he came home in fourth in 10min 17secs, the team coming through in sixth through Rory Strachan (26th; 11.30) and Anthony Quinn (27th; 11.31). Scott Fleming finished 32nd (11.58) ahead of M Bain (33rd; 12.26), Lewis Stewart (37th; 12.57) and Craig Jardine (46th; 13.31).
The Under 13 Girls did well to pack closely at the head of the race to move into a slender lead in the League from Edinburgh AC. Eilidh Russell led the Girls home in seventh (11.59) a stride ahead of Catriona Laing (eighth; 12.00) with Jodie Currie (tenth; 12.25) rounding off the scoring trio. Sophie Rose came home 17th (12.57) ahead of Jessica Stitt (19th; 13.20)
Eilidh MacCorquodale was always well to the fore in the Under 15 Girls Race as she confidently strode round the two laps of the 3,200 metre course to finish second (11min 19secs) while Emily Greenan also continued her recent good form in fifth in the Under 17 race (10.54). A Henderson (25th; 15.19) ensured the club finished in fifth overall.
The Under 15 Boys saw Jack Kerr come home in a tasty 10.51 for 13th placing ahead of Cameron Harris (17th; 11.06) and Iain Davies (19th; 11.15) as the Boys finished fourth team. Kieran Potter also caught the eye in 20th (11.16) while Malcolm English (26th; 12.05) and Lewis Strachan (27th; 12.18) rounded off Central's challenge.
Conor Kerr had an excellent race in the Under 17 Men's race, covering the 6,000 metre course in 21min 37secs in third while team mate Sam Fraser finished 18th (24.21) and the team in sixth.
This race doubled up with the Senior Women and here it was newcomer Kerry MacPhee who disposed of a high class field to lead Central home in first (22.27). Jennifer Emsley moved along confidently for sixth (23.12) and Alison McDonald ensured Central finished as leading team with her eleventh place (23.59). Under 20 runner Karen Glover ran well to finish 23rd (26.04) with Jane Waterhouse competing well in 37th (27.39) while Claire Brisbane came 63rd (29.42).
Michael Wright was Central's top finisher in the Senior Men's 9,000 metre Race with a fine eighth place (31.06). Cameron Milne is proving a useful addition to the club and here came home 17th (32.07) ahead of two improving Under 20 runners Ross Milne (24th; 32.47) and David Hutchison (30th; 33.20). Chris McHardy (2nd; 34.41) and Colin Alexander (78th; 36.10) ensured that Central's counting six finished third on the day.
Six of Central's Senior Men made the journey to Sutton Park, Birmingham to compete in the English National Road Relay Championships, also held on Saturday (15 October). All the athletes should be proud of their efforts as the team finished twenty-second overall.
Alex Hendry was on the first leg and picked up from his strong run the previous week to hand over in fifteenth in the fastest Central time of the day (17min 38secs).
Experience
This was Under 20 Scott Green's first exposure at this level and he will have gained much experience from his 19.06 effort which saw the team slip to 38th. Lewis Millar's effort of 18min 55secs kept the team in 38th on the third leg while Alistair Hay's fourth leg of exactly 19 minutes brought the team to 36th.
John Newsom also underlined his early season form with a 17.52 run to bring the team through to 24th and it was left to Scottish 10K and Marathon Champion Ross Houston to round off the club's effort with 17min 38secs for an overall 1 hour 50min 29secs.
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 19 Oct 11
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