Jamie leads way as club keep title
Frozen ground did not stop the athletes of Central AC winning a number of titles at the East District Cross Country Championships in Livingston.
Gold medals went to the senior men and U20 women while bronzes were won by the U13 and U17 mens’ teams.
Jamie Crowe enhanced his reputation by winning the senior men’s title and also coming home with golds were Kate Gallagher (U20 women) and Scott Brember (masters men).
Jamie was involved in a tussle with Welsh international Kristian Jones, representing Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, who sat on Kristian’s shoulder for much of the latter half of the 9.6km race before unleashing an impressive sprint finish to win in 29.58.
Superb running by Alastair Hay (6th, 30.41) and Cameron Milne (7th, 30.57) backed up by Aidan Thompson (13th, 31.53), Matthew Sutherland (16th, 32.24) and Scott Brember (19th, 32.43) as medal counters ensured Central continued their four-year team winning streak in this event.
There was more strong running throughout this race from Murray MacLarty (32.59), Lewis Millar (33.11), Will Hensman (38.17), Donald Shaw (39.30), David Eckersley (40.09), Charles GrahamMarr (37.52), Fraser Purves (41.23), Ben Noad (41.58), Gordon Appelbe (42.06), Raymond Milne (46.46), Allan Gall (48.14) and Cameron Campbell (49.36).
The senior ladies were fourth with a strong team taking on a 6400m course. Morag MacLarty led the team home with a fifth place 23.30, with Fanni Gyurko just behind (6th, 23.40). Next counters for the team awards were Claire Houston (26th, 25.15) and Kim Timmins (45th, 26.54), with Patricia Milne (27.54), Hazel Dean (28:28), Becky Hay (29.35), Amy Hendry (29.46), Kirsten McStay (29.55), Lee Houghton (34.04) and Alison Curry (35.31).
Kate Gallagher took top spot and led her U20 team to team gold with an impressive 17.46 for the 5000m course. Lauren McCulloch worked hard to move up through the field to fifth place with 18.43 and the winning trio was completed by Eleanor Hanson with 22.05 in 19th place.
The U17 men saw Ben MacMillan lead his Central team home in eighth, covering the 6.4km course in 22.32. Tom Graham-Marr finished just a few strides behind in ninth (22.35) while new recruit Telfer Gray ensured the bronze team medals in 16th spot with 23.10.
This time there was back-up from Sandy Holl (25.59) and Gregor McArthur (25.19).
For the U17 ladies Rosie Eckersley (8th, 19.40) and Heather Scott (25th, 23.40) put in good performances.
The U15 boys team was led home by Lewis Dow (8th, 13.57) with Finlay Muir (14.57) Thomas Woods (15.21). Kyle Howie and Angus Henderson finished together in 42nd and 43rd positions with 16.08 and Ben Angus Hughes came through in 53rd in 16.57, with the boys finishing as fifth team.
Carrie Banks ran a strong seventh place with 15.21 along with Kyra Gibb (20th, 16.41) in the U15 girls race.
The U13 boys faced a 3.2km challenge, with Connor Bell seventh in 11.50.
Bronze team medals were ensured by Cameron Kerr (15th, 12.14) and Cameron MacMillan (29th, 12.52), Euan Campbell (34th, 13.13), Euan Docherty (35th, 13.19), Ruairidh Burns (52nd, 14.04) and Finlay Marchant (64th, 15.33).
For Central’s U13 girls there was another strong turnout with Anna MacKinnon (24th, 13.54), Summer Maclean (25th, 13.54) Amy Cully (33rd, 14.21), Mirren Julie Henry (38th, 14.35), Mary Kealey (46th, 15.07).
The top 10 finishers in each event won representative honours in the East of Scotland team for the interdistrict match at Holyrood in the new year.