Knight shines in frenetic finale to take top spot in Aberdeen parkrun

Paul Knight (Metro Aberdeen) held off a late challenge from Cameron Strachan to lead home a field of 251 in the Aberdeen parkrun 5km in a time of 17min 22sec.

Knight, winner of the Dunnydeer hill race the previous weekend, held a comfortable lead at the halfway point but Strachan, a former Aberdeen AAC runner, closed to within four seconds by the end.

Steve Buchan (Metro Aberdeen) set his fastest time for the beach promenade course, 17:43, when finishing third overall and first in the over-40 age group.

Aberdeen AAC’s Hannah Mutch won the women’s prize when placing 19th overall in 19:56 with Holly Morrison (Aberdeen University) sprinting strongly to pip Becky Ward (Metro Aberdeen) by three seconds to take second in 21:30.

Allan Christie won the Aberdeen Hazlehead parkrun 5km in 17:54 while Craig Beattie (Metro Aberdeen) was runner-up in 19:34 and Joe Folan took third position in 20:07.

Teenager Kirsty Anderson (Metro Aberdeen) was first woman in 22:43, followed by Lynsey Still in 22:52 and Kirsteen Leitch who set a personal best 24:27 in third spot.

Ross County’s Eoin Coull was first in the Inverness parkrun 5km when recording 18:22 to finish 1min 10sec ahead of Steven Ellis, while Calum Faulkner (Highland Hill Runners) was third in 19:36.

Rhona Grant (Highland Hill Runners) was top woman in 20:13 with former Scotland international sprinter Lesley Clarkson (Inverness Harriers) second in 21:11 and Gillian Grant third in 22:51.

Kevin Morrison set his fastest time for the Elgin parkrun 5km course when edging out Mike Stuart by two seconds to lead the way home in 19:05.

Michael Taylor (Hyde Park Runners) was third in 19:36 while fourth-placed Jessica Neal (Forres Harriers) was first woman in 19:59. Michelle Russell (Moray Road Runners) was second woman in 24:29 with Linda Gordon third in 24:38.