Butchart again the toast of Central AC

Olympian Andrew Butchart anchored Central AC to their fifth successive senior men’s team title at the Scottish Cross-Country Relay Championships at Cumbernauld.

Dundee athlete Jamie Crowe was fourth for Central over the opening stage of the 4x4km race before Michael Wright and Alastair Hay brought the Stirling club into pole position, with Butchart able to enjoy an untroubled run around the final circuit.

Butchart clocked 11 minutes 22 seconds but it was fellow Rio athlete Callum Hawkins that blazed around the third leg, bringing Kilbarchan up from 18th to fifth in 11 minutes 01 seconds – the fastest time of the day.

Butchart said: “It was good to win it again – that’s five in a row for Central AC and I know it means a lot to the coaches and the club to keep being the dominant force at cross country.

“I definitely had the ‘glory leg’ this time with the fourth leg and happily the guys before me had it set up so well for me that I just had to get round safely.”

Fife AC’s Logan Rees, representing Edinburgh University, set the students up for a podium place, clocking 12.14 over the second stage as the uni went on to secure team silver ahead of Aberdeen AAC in third.

Milnathort athlete Rory Muir, who studies in Aberdeen, set the granite city team up for success with his opening stage of 12.32.

In the senior women’s 4x4km race Edinburgh University took the title thanks to Stephie Pennycook, Catriona Graves, Louise Mercer and Mhairi Maclennan.

Auchterarder athlete Morag MacLarty clinched team silver for Central coming through from fourth to second, an all-out final sprint and lunge for the finish line pipping Victoria Park Glasgow’s Anna Tait.

Fife AC was eighth with the return of ex-Scottish marathon champion Megan Crawford a boost for the team.

Dunfermline club PH Racing celebrated team gold in the women’s veteran 3x4km courtesy of Mary Western, Alison Whyte and Karen Kennedy.

Springburn Harriers claimed the over-50 veteran title anchored by over-65 athlete Jeanette Craig.

Edinburgh AC secured double gold in the young females and young males 3x2.5km races.

Anna Hedley brought Fife AC into the lead over the second stage clocking nine minutes 17 seconds, fourth fastest of the race, with the team eventually finishing 16th.

Andrew Butchart.