Runners give it their all to be in London

Kilbarchan AAC runners are preparing to pull on their trainers in a bid to qualify for the London Marathon, with entries now open for the Young Athletes Road Races.

The race will this year take to Greenock’s Battery Park– and once again there’s the chance for athletes in the older age groups to win the chance to race for Scotland in London. The race takes place beside the Clyde on Sunday, March 18, with six races that day in the U17, U15 and U13 age groups. Entries close on Monday, March 5.

The likes of the Habbies’Jack Patton will be aiming to follow up his success from the Lindsays National XC at the weekend, where he took gold in the Under -17s race.

The London Mini Marathon changed their approach to entries a couple of years ago and the earlier deadline for team names ensured the Scottish Young Athletes Road Races could not be used for selection trial purposes at that time.

A Scottish Athletics spokesman said: “That has now changed again, and we are pleased to highlight that the races at Greenock on March 18 will now once again form the key trials for the four Scotland teams (of six athletes each) to be selected for the London Mini Marathon.

“These are for U17 and U15 races and the first four athletes across the line in those age groups will be selected for London with two more discretionary slots.”