The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Blue Toon birthday gift
Mark McCluskie showed his rivals a clean pair of heels when sprinting home in fine style to win the MB Plant 5km at yesterday’s Peterhead running festival.
The Oldmeldrum-based athlete, who competes for Garioch Road Runners, completed the course in 16min 59sec to finish 15sec ahead of Ben Ward whose Metro Aberdeen clubmate Steve Buchan was first over-40, when placing third overall in 17:19.
McCluskie who has won the Barra 10km at Oldmeldrum and the Red Run 5km and 10km at Kemnay in recent weeks, was delighted to add another title to his collection.
He said: “I was happy to dip under 17min on such a windy day.
“I tucked in at the start but then stayed with Ben for most of the first part of the race.
“I made a break on an uphill section just before the halfway point and began to get away.
“I just kept pushing on from that point and was able to open up a big enough lead.
“I think it’s a decent course and if we got a calm day I’m sure I could run faster.
“I’ve had a busy spell of racing recently so I’m now going to get another training block under my belt before building up again for an autumn half marathon.”
Liam Norris (Peterhead AC) won the junior prize when finishing seventh in 18:03 while Athol Burnett (Aberdeen AAC) was first over-50 in 18:54 and Ian Duguid was first over-60 in 33:50.
Tammy Wilson (Jogscotland Kintore), who was fourth in last month’s Stirling marathon, secured an emphatic win in the women’s race when recording 18min 28sec.
Emma Norrie (Metro Aberdeen) put in a strong performance to take second position in 20:10, 9sec ahead of Shelly Duncan (Peterhead AC).
Wilson was satisfied with her performance but hopes to run faster this summer.
She said: “I’m pleased given the conditions.
“I was on my own for a long way as I couldn’t catch the group of men ahead of me and it was hard work.
“At the moment I’m just trying to improve on my best 5km times but today I was pleased to be able to get under 19min because of the wind.”
Linda McGee (Peterhead AC) lifted the over-40s prize when taking fourth position in 20:28 while seventh-placed Vicki Elder (Fraserburgh Running Club) was first junior in 21:56.
Roselyn Bruce (Peterhead Jogscotland) was first over-50 in 28:41 and Pauline Grant was the leading over-60 in 39:18. Kenny Wilson won the final race in the Moray trail running series when recording 21min 57sec for the Roseisle forest course.
John Newsom (Inverness Harriers) was runnerup in 23:48 with Finlay Todd (Ross County) third in 24:14.
Youngster Emily Andrew (Inverness Harriers) was first woman in 27:35 with Rhona Grant (Highland Hill Runners) second in 28:44 and veteran Hilary Cameron (Forres Harriers) third in 30:05.
Blair Milne (Milne’s High) won the under-16 boys’ race in 7:44 to clinch the age group series prize ahead of his brother Joshua who was second in 7:52 while David Spencer (Forres Academy) finished third in 8:12.
Harriet Neal (Forres Academy) won the girls’ race in 9:21 from Shauna Perry (Forres Academy), 9:34, but third-placed Kirsten Bowie (Gordon Schools), 9:37, won the series award.
Thomas Reynolds (Hopeman) and Bruce Evans (Applegrove) shared the same time of 4:12 in the under-12 boys’ competition while Ray Taylor (Millbank) was third in 4:15.
Reynolds got the verdict on the day but Evans won the series title.
Zara Gill (Cullen) won the girls’ race in 4:37 with Nicole Taylor (Millbank) second in 4:40.
Mackenzie Findlay (Cullen) took third spot in 4:52 while fifth-placed Beth Urquhart (Milne’s High) won the series prize.