Callum proves he’s no stick in mud with Scots title
Olympic ace Callum Hawkins romped to his second national cross-country title in Falkirk – then revealed he almost gave it a miss.
The world championship hopeful, who recently smashed the Scottish half- marathon record in Japan, blasted through choppy conditions in Callendar Park to win in 33 minutes and 34 seconds, well ahead of Kris Jones and Lachlan Oates.
But with organisers nearly calling off the event at dawn, Hawkins admitted he came close to opting out with a 13-miler in the Big Apple coming up on his schedule.
He said: “I didn’t decide 100 per cent until this morning. If it was going to be minging weather, it would have taken too much out of me. But I needed a little tuning up between Japan and New York.
“The last three years I’ve gone for it but you can’t race all the time, when you’re at the top end, you don’t want to tire yourself out.
“But it’s still fun to come and race where it all started.”
Morag MacLarty breezed over a minute clear of Beth Potter and Sarah Inglis to win the women’s title in 38:32.
And the dentist, 31, reckons it’s a reward for never opting to call it quits when a series of injuries knocked her career off track.
She said: “The downs do make the highs a lot better. Years ago, when I won the European junior 1500m title, I thought everything would be smooth and this was just the start but it’s been the opposite.
“It’s been downhill with wee uphills every now and again but I’m hoping this will be me on the up.”
Broc Drury of Aberdeen and Victoria Park ’s Gil l ian Black claimed the Under-20 titles with Central AC landing both senior team golds.