The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Laura Muir turns the clock back with Fife victory.
Olympian turns back the clock with stylish display
Laura Muir swapped a packed stadium in London for Kirkcaldy High School on Saturday as she raced for the first time since the World Championships.
And the double London 2017 finalist didn’t disappoint the crowds in Fife at the Lindsays Short Course Champs as she won the Scottish 4K Cross Country gold for the fourth time in five years.
It was a typically imperious performance from Dundee Hawkhill Harrier Muir to win in 12.53 and by almost 60 seconds before Central AC’s Cameron Boyek proved his class to take the win in a keenly-contested senior men’s race.
Boyek won by four seconds as the battles raged a few metres behind him and that success led Central men home for three-in-a-row in the team race in this particular event.
Laura’s decision to race at Kirkcaldy – and she has been a loyal supporter of the 4K for a number of years – had captured media attention and within the athletics community in Scotland.
The Rio Olympian took the advantage early on and then built a bigger gap the longer the race went on; although Kirkcaldy-raised Steph Pennycook (13.47) made the best of giving chase to make sure she took a silver medal in the colours of team champions Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hound.
Central AC’s Morag MacLarty, another athlete who has made a huge contribution to these events over the years, was third in 13.50.
Muir said:” It’s great to be back, thanks for all the support out there.
“Thirteen years ago I ran here in the Scottish Primary Schools Championships for Milnathort Primary – that seems a long time ago now.
“I’ve raced the 4km for the past few years and I really enjoy it.
“I always think cross country at this time of year helps give you a good base for the following season on the track.
“It’s nice to win it again. And now the indoor season is the next big focus because I want to perform well there.”
Pennycook hung on to take the silver medal in 13.47 as Auchterarder athlete Morag MacLarty (Central AC) unleashed a fast finish to take bronze a further three seconds adrift.
Edinburgh University finished clear team runners while Annabel Simpson fifth, Halina Rees 15th, Jen Spence 40th and Jennifer Cruickshanks, 42nd, secured team bronze for Fife AC.
Shildon athlete Cameron Boyek, representing Central AC, took off over the second lap of the men’s 4km to win in 12 minutes 01 seconds.
The north-east England athlete helped Scotland to a Stewart Cup 4x1km Relay win at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country early in 2016 but missed the final six months of the year with injury.
Having contested just one race in County Durham so far this winter, Boyek returned north to surprise the chasing field as Lachlan Oates (Shetteston) finished second in 12.05.
Perth athlete Sol Sweeney (Glasgow University) excelled, his fast finish securing individual bronze and U 20 gold also timed at 12.05.
Early joint race leader Logan Rees finished sixth to lead Fife to ninth team place.
Ben Sandilands (Fife AC) served up a fabulous home win in the U15 boys 2km race. The Kirkcaldy junior took an early lead and teased out a two seconds advantage over the final 800m ahead of Edinburgh’s Hugh Morrow.
A finishing time of six minutes 16 seconds saw the Balwearie High School pupil home leading Fife to team bronze and backed up by Peter Scott in ninth and Owen Keddie in 49th.
Daisy Cumming (Dunfermline T & F) and Sarah Coutts (Pitreavie) were only three seconds short of individual bronze in the U15 girls race, finishing fourth and fifth respectively and sharing a time of 7.04.