Double up for athletic teams
Senior teams show the way
Central AC’s two senior teams landed double wins in the National Short Course Championships at Renfrew at the weekend.
And their success secured the further double of winning the Scottish Cross Country Challenge by being the two top teams in the early season series covering cross country relays and culminating in the short course event.
Defending their team title, the senior men showed true grit and some splendid packing over the two-lap, 4000 metre course. Jamie Crowe was well to the fore throughout and finished off his effort in 10th place (12min 31secs) and Cameron Milne (18th; 12.39), Alex Hendry (20th; 12.40) and Dale Colley (21st: 12.43) ensured team gold medals in a close fought race.
Conan McCaughey (12.44) provided quality back-up ahead of significant performances from Tom Watson (13.05) and Scott Green (13.32). Scott Brember added to his reputation with a 13.58sec run in 98th place, missing out on an Over 40 Masters bronze medal by just three seconds.
Lewis Millar (14.01) led in David Lindsay (14.43), David Eckersley (15.02), Fraser MacPherson (15.16), Charles Graham-Marr (15.26), Colin Alexander (15.55), Jens Subke (16.14), Stuart Watson (17.06), Simon Barlow (17.33) and Mark Logie (19.00).
With four to count for team awards and a strong field it was always going to be tight battle for team medals in the senior women’s race. Fresh from being awarded ScottishAthletics Athlete of the Year, Laura Muir showed her class as she soon created clear water ahead of the rest of the field to win in emphatic style.
Central’s Morag MacLarty set about taking on a fierce battle for minor medals and team awards amongst a group of half a dozen top girls. Morag came away with a good return in third place for an individual bronze medal with a time of 14.02, over the same 4000m course as the men.
Jennifer Wetton, though now focussing on longer road races and marathons, was pleased to be able to take eighth place (14.20) and Fanni Gyorko, making her first outing for the club after returning from representing Scotland on international orienteering duties, was able to achieve 17th in 14.42. Fiona Thompson was struggling with an injury but battled to a 38th place in 15.20 to make a vital contribution in securing the title by just three points from Edinburgh AC.
Other Central finishers were Natalie Milne (16.12), Kim Timmins (16.34), Claire Houston (16.55), Eleanor Hanson (17.01), Patricia Milne (17.37) and Jodie Currie (18.19).
The Under 17 women’s race over 3000m saw Central take silver medals behind Giffnock North. Kate Gallagher (6th; 11.21) had a battle within the leading group while Lauren McCulloch (10th; 11.49) worked her way up the field and Lauryn Turnbull (15th) gave another strong performance to secure the medals. There was strong back-up from Heather Scott (12:59) and Bethany Burch (14.28).
Sandy Holl acquitted himself well as Central’s sole runner in the Under 17 men’s race, completing the 3000m course in a fine 10.35.
For the Under 15 girls race over 2000m, Rosie Eckersley worked up through the field from a steady start and finished 12th in 7.56 with Kyra Gibb close at hand in 8.01. Elizabeth Thompson (8.37), Carrie Banks (8.47), Millie Stokoe (9.24) and Emma Mailer (9.34) contributed towards another good team performance with a fifth placing in the team results.
The Under 15 boys race saw some excellent endeavour from Central’s youngsters with Cameron Blance and Daniel Bruce finishing together on 7.55secs for 63rd and 64th places. Cameron Fraser picked up more good experience (8.40) heading in Ben Hughes (8.53).