The National Cross Country Relay Championships took place this weekend at Cumbernauld. It was a mild and dry start when we pitched the tent awaiting for the arrival of the athletes, however it wasn’t too long before the rain started. It then rained for the majority of the races making the already wet and heavy course muddy and marshy.
The first race of the day was the young females and our first runner was Beth McWilliam. Beth seemed to set of tentatively but ran a great race to work her way through the field and hand over to our u15 runner Bethan Kitchen in 8th place. Bethan ran well over the muddy conditions to hold our position in 8th and pass on to final leg runner Olivia Meikle. Olivia having only returned to training on Thursday after being down with a cold and still not feeling 100% put in a solid run to hold 8th place. A fantastic start to the days races!
Next to set off were the young males with u13 Struan Milne leading the team off. Struan ran a solid leg to hand over in 32nd place to u15 Lawrence Ward. Lawrence was on a mission and tore through the field to pull us up to 15th place and pass on to final leg runner Andrew McWilliam. Andrew set off with intent and pulled back six places and bring us home in 9th place. Another great race by our young athletes!
Next it was the turn of our senior ladies and leading off was Keira Gore who got us off to a good start and hand over in 16th place to 2nd leg runner Amy Smith. Amy in her first race since May had a solid run to come home and hand over in 20th place to Hannah Little. Hannah in her first senior cross country race ran well to pull back a couple of places and hand onto final leg runner Cathy Dickson in 18th place. Cathy one of our masters stepped up to complete the team and had a great run to come home in 20th place.
The final race of the day was the senior men and we had a senior and masters team. Our first runner for the senior team was Christian Graham. Christian ran well on the first leg up with leaders for much of the first leg before some small gaps began to appear. Christian handed on in 7th place to Matthew Smith. Matthew returning from injury had a positive run to hand on in 14th place to 3rd leg runner Alastair Scott. Alastair having just moved up to u20 was running his first senior race and ran well over the course to pass on in 24th place to Ross Matheson. It was great to have Ross complete the team and he had a solid run to bring the team home in 25th place.
Our masters team were led off by Martin Gore who told us he was still recovering from his efforts in the London Marathon but he put in a great effort to hand on in 3rd place to Ken McWilliam. Ken McWilliam had a good run on 2nd leg to hand on in 8th place to 3rd leg runner Andrew McGlone. Andrew had a solid run over the now even wetter and muddier course to pass on in 9th place to final leg runner Scott Dickson. Scott had the glory leg and brought the team home in 8th place and Scott even said he enjoyed it!!
Not a bad day with three teams in the top 10 and the other two 20th and 25th.
Well done also to Lasswade AC athletes Harry Henriksen, Magnus and Sarah Tait who were running for their university teams today.
Congratulations to everyone on their individual performances and thanks to for their effort and commitment.
For full results click here
Thanks also to everyone who helped pack up the tent at the end of the day and to Scott and Cathy who took it away to dry it.
