The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Hawkins on pole as rivals forced to miss out
Athletics: North talents in mix Falkirk success
Callum Hawkins (Kilbarchan AAC) is favourite to win the men's 10km race in tomorrow's Lindsay's Scottish crosscountry championships at Falkirk's Callendar Park as fellow Rio Olympian Andrew Butchart (Central AC) – winner for the past two seasons – may give the event a miss.
North runner Andrew Douglas, who competes for Inverclyde AC, finished runner-up behind Butchart last year but will miss out through injury.
Douglas said: “I'm just turning the corner in getting over the injury and various illnesses I've had over the past couple of months, what's important is to get consistency back in training.
“I need to take away the pressure of racing and just concentrate on building my training.”
Hawkins, the 2013 and 2014 champion, showed outstanding form when setting a Scottish half marathon record of 60min in Japan recently, and if Butchart does not run, it is difficult to see anyone beating him.
Aberdeen AAC's Michael Ferguson is anther nonstarter after dislocating his shoulder when falling in the British universities and colleges championships at Sheffield earlier in the month.
Mark Mitchell (Forres Harriers), bronze medallist last February, will be in the field of 887 runners, but he was keen to play down his chances.
He said: “The field looks better than last year so I think a top-10 finish would be a good result. Most of my training has been geared towards the Inverness half marathon next month.”
Stornoway's Connor Maclean, winner of the under-17 title two years ago, competes in the under-20 men's race.
The Western Isles man is bidding to become the first north athlete to win this age group title since Stephen Cook (Inverness Harriers) more than 20 years ago.
Maclean faces strong opposition with Fife AC’s Tristan Rees hard to beat while Aberdeen AAC's Broc Drury has been getting
“Take away the pressure of racing and just concentrate on building”
stronger and leads an Aberdeen squad which also includes Fraser Cruickshank, Steven Murray, Aaron Odentz, Craig Osborne, Callum Symmons and Tyler White.
Adam Maclellan and Finlay Todd will represent Ross County while north athlete Ross Gollan is in the Shettleston Harriers side.
Cameron Allan (Moray Road Runners), who was third in the Scottish interdistrict championships at Holyrood Park in January, should be a contender in the under-17 boys' race. Anna Macfadyen has been in outstanding form throughout the winter and it would be a surprise if the Forres Harriers athlete did not win the under-20 women's title in the Lindsey's Scottish crosscountry championships at Falkirk tomorrow.
The Kinloss-based 17-year-old looks unstoppable and comfortably won the Scottish North District title and the North women's league.
She has also excelled at a higher level, finishing third in the senior women's race at the Scottish inter-district championships at Holyroood Park before going on to win the Home Countries international in Cardiff.
Macfadyen, who won the national under-17 crown last February, completed her preparations for Falkirk with another fine performance in Scotland colours at the Armagh international 3km last week where she won the under20 prize in a course record time.
Banchory Stonehaven AC's Clare Stewart will hope for a repeat of her outstanding victory in the Scottish inter-district championships at Holyrood Park last month, when she competes in the under-17 girls’ race.
Aberdeen AAC's Naomi Lang, who defeated Stewart at the Scottish East championships in December but finished behind her at Holyrood, is another strong contender for a podium finish.
North league champion Constance Nankivell (East Sutherland) will also be aiming to do well, as will Grace Whelan (Moray Road Runners).
Rio Olympic 10,000m athlete Beth Potter (VP Glasgow) is among the leading lights in a quality women's field which also features London 2012 marathon runner and sixtime previous champion Freya Ross (Edinburgh AC).
Ross has competed in the national championships for the past 20 years and said: “It is such an exciting event that clubs get behind it and support.
“There are people coming to Falkirk from every part of Scotland to race and that’s great for the sport.
“It is a focal point on the calendar and people build towards it through the
“It’s a focal point on the calendar and people build towards it”
months of winter training and competition.”
The length of the women's race has been extend from 8km to 10km this year and that has attracted a record entry of 382 while the overall entry numbers for all age group races has reached its highest tally of 2,330.
Scotland international Fiona Brian heads a strong Metro Aberdeen squad which also includes Kayleigh Jarrett and Ginie Barrand while Ellie Buchan will lead the Aberdeen AAC challenge.
Inverness athlete Mhairi Maclennan is part of a medal-chasing Edinburgh University squad while Tammy Wilson is the leading athlete in the Garioch Road Runners squad which has entered a team for the first time.