Central pair land medals at Euros
Two Central AC runners helped Great Britain top the medal table at the European Cross Country Championships in Slovakia at the weekend.
Andrew Butchart (pictured left) landed a fine bronze medal as he once again proved his class at international level.
A year after finishing fourth, when Callum Hawkins took third in Italy, the Dunblane athlete led the GB and NI men to team bronze medals in the senior men’s race.
Butchart led the race in stages but ultimately had to defer to race winner Kigen Ozbilen of Turkey and silver medallist Adel Mechaal of Spain.
“It was very different to last year,” said Andrew. “With the weather being so cold this year, training had to be different but out on the racecourse it went perfectly.
“It went exactly how I wanted it to go and I was confident from the start, knowing I was in reasonable shape.
“The last lap was frustrating. Once they were gone, they were gone and on this sort of course there is no way of catching them. I wish I could have stayed with them but I lost a bit of concentration and that’s all it takes.
“I’m happy with the bronze medal and hopefully there will be many more to come.
“It is great to win the team bronze as well with the rest of the team running well so it is a nice result.”
Central colleague Cameron Boyek helped the team to victory in the first 4 x 1500m mixed relay event at the Euro Cross.
Cameron (pictured above, second right) was on the second leg and took the Brits into a lead that they held on the final two legs to see off the Czech Republic by one second.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling and a great honour to be here,” said the Scottish 4K cross country champion, who ran the second leg after Melissa Courtney.
“We came for the gold and we achieved it. I knew I was in good shape and wanted to get out hard and make sure that I caught them.
“Once I caught them I wanted to make sure I didn’t waste too much energy going past them too early so I sat on them for a bit and got myself in a good position.”
Sarah McDonald took it on for GB and then Tom Marshall brought it home.