MacDonald makes her mark on Cross debut

Diana MacDonald (Highland Hill Runners), who was making her Highland Cross debut, won the women’s division of the race despite seeing her lead cut in half after a mixup at the run-bike transition.

The Inverness-based athlete completed the course in 3:58:37 for 19th position from 739 finishers, making her only the fourth woman to have cracked the four-hour barrier in the 35-year history of the event.

Title-holder Caroline Marwick (Inverness Harriers), making her 10th appearance in the race, was second but her time of 4:03:13 was 10min quicker than in 2016.

Jill Stephen (Hunters Bog Trotters), the Scottish long-distance classic hill race champion, finished third for the second year in a row, and first veteran woman, in 4:07:51.

Louise Cartmell (Moray Road Runners), runner-up the last two years, was fourth in 4:11:53.

The Fraserburgh Running Club trio of Lisa Stephen, Carol Massie and Gilian Cardno-Strachan won the women’s team prize.

Five charities will benefit from this year’s event as each three-person team had to pledge to raise £500 between them for the beneficiaries.

This year’s charities are Abbeyfield Ballachulish Society, Caberfeidh Horizons, Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team, Merkinch Community Centre and Shopmobility Highland.

There were double wins for Garioch’s Mark McCluskie and Tammy Wilson at the inaugural Intellicore Red Run at Fetternear, Kemnay.

McCluskie won the 10km in 36:25, with his clubmate David Barclay runner-up in 37:27, while Martin Reid (jogscotland Kintore) finished third in 37:44.

Wilson took the top women’s prize in 40:11 with Julie Hoyle ( jogscotland Kintore) second in 44:36 and Rachel Paterson third in 48:31.

McCluskie went on to win the accompanying 5km in 17:57, with Wilson lifting the women’s prize when finishing second overall in 19:49.

“Fourth woman to have cracked the four-hour barrier”

SUCCESSFUL START: Diana MacDonald won on her event debut