Take bronze at Stirling Newsom leads as Inverness runners secure Golspie prizes

first race for Midwestern University in Texas.

The former North East Scotland College and Lossiemouth High School student was competing in an inter-collegiate 5km cross-country race at Lub- bock. Kenyan Esther Gitahi (New Mexico Junior College) won in 17min 32sec with Jarrett runner-up in 18.17.

Jarrett, who moved to the US recently to combine a course studying exercise physiology with her running career, is now settling into life on the student campus at Wichita Falls in Texas. She was delighted with her debut performance but is determined to improve in future, and said: “I am happy enough with that. I wanted faster but we had a speed workout on Thursday so I’ll cut myself some slack.

“It was also a hilly course, but I’m glad to get the first race done.” John Newsom led members of Inverness Harriers to the men’s team title with a clean sweep of the top individual prizes in the Golspie 10km.

The Nairn-based athlete, who was silver medallist at the Scottish trail running championships the previous weekend, was in excellent form again and completed the course in 32min 15sec to finish 70sec ahead of clubmate Donnie Macdonald while Gordon Lennox was third in 34.14.

Fraser Roach (East Sutherland) picked up the under-20 men’s award when finishing fourth overall in 35.12 while fifthplaced Jonny MacLeod (Inverness Harriers) was first over-40 in 35.45.

There was more success for the Inverness club in the women’s division of the race with Gemma Cormack winning in 37.47.

Rachel Armitage (Aberdeen AAC) was runner-up in 39.20, 15sec ahead of Lesley Hansen.

Inverness claimed the women’s team prize when Caroline Marwick completed the scoring, finishing fourth in 40.11 while her clubmate Heather Gardiner was first over-40 in 44.20.

Ben Cameron (Forres Harriers) won the accompanying junior 3km, while RunBalmoral primary schools race champion Anya Morrison (East Sutherland) won the girls’ race in style with an impressive course record time of 11.03. l Mike Herron (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) was a comfortable winner of the Braemar half marathon, recording 1.15.45 to finish well clear of Stewart Rodney (1.20.23) and Ewan Evans (1.26.38).

Peter Henry (Deeside Runners) was fourth in 1.28.49 while Derrick Anderson was first over-40, fifth overall, in 1.30.35.

Louise Andrew won the women’s race in 1.33.09 while Jennifer Robertson (Peterhead AC) was runner-up in 1.34.57 and Jo Groucott took third spot in 1.42.07. l Hamish Battle (Metro Aberdeen Running Club) won the Tom’s Cairn 10km at Finzean when clocking 39.54 for the mixed terrain route.

Owain Bristow was second in 40.37 while Jim Tole (Metro Aberden) was first over-40 when finishing third overall in 40.47.

Sally Wallis (Deeside Runners) collected the top women’s prize when finishing 10th overall in 45.17.

Veteran Jeni Rees-Jenkins (Insch Trail Running Club) was second in 49.53 and Catherine Watson took third spot in 51.07.

Aberdeen