ATHLETICS
Representing Great Britain & Ireland, Lothian Running Club’s Sarah Inglis produced an excellent run to finish in third place in the women’s 5000 metres race at the European Athletics Team Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Sarah was one of only five Scots in the team for a competition in which each of the 12 countries taking part fields one competitor in each event. Points are awarded 12 to the winner and so on down to one for finishing 12th.
For most of the race Sarah was content to sit in second place in a four runner breakaway group behind leader Liv Westphal of France. It wasn’t until the last 800 metres that the pace stepped up a gear and at the bell it was still all to play for.
Germany’s Hanna Klein made the decisive break and pulled clear to win in 15:39.00. In the battle for second place Sarah (15:45.23) just lost out to Spaniard Maintane Melero 15:44.45.
The Lothian athlete’s sterling effort earned 10 points for the GB & Ireland team who finished in fifth place overall.
For Sarah, it was a return to the city where she won her first GB vest back in 2010 at the World Cross Country Championship.
LIVINGSTON ATHLETIC CLUB
Sarah Calvert was in stunning form at the Scottish National Championships over the weekend as she won the under-20 800m and 1500m double for the second successive year.
The Livingston AC member eased to the title in the 800m on Saturday with her time of 2:07.86 being nearly six seconds faster than her closest rival.
Team- mate Katie Craig broke her personal best with a time of 2:20.98 to grab an impressive fourth place.
In poor weather the following day, Sarah was at it once again as she won the 1500m by a similar margin. Her time of 4:29.00 was over five seconds faster than runner-up Niamh Carr of Springwell.
Once again, Katie Craig reached the final and grabbed a new personal best with her time of 4:47.36 placing her in eighth.
The club’s Ricky Arthurs ran a new personal best in the 400m with a time of 52.45.
It was a busy week for the club with both Roxanne Hardie and Erin Cameron in action at the Grangemouth Open Graded meeting, where Roxanne claimed new personal bests in the 200m and discus.
Club athletes were also in action at a number of parkruns on Saturday morning with Isla Calvert being first female at Edinburgh in a time of 18:09 , which was a new Edinburgh parkrun personal best.
At Falkirk it was a family affair with Alastair Marshall finishing in 18:32 (2nd JW15-17), dad Stephen finishing in 23:01 and mum Nina in 32: 11. At Lochore Meadows Alan Morris finished in 22:48 ( 3rd VM45- 49) and Grant McLean in 24:12.
Alison Simpson was first SW30- 34 at Hay Lodge in a time of 25: 22 while Cameron Tweedie was second male at Polkemmet with a new course PB of 20:35.
The biggest turnout was close to home at Livingston with Shannon Prevost being third female in 23:12 followed by Heather Bruce in 24:19 (2nd VW45-49), Matthew Cutajar in 24:22 (3rd SM20-24), Judith Hargreaves in 24:46 (1st VW50-54) and Susan Eddie in 30:24 (3rd VW50-54).
LOTHIAN RUNNING CLUB
Ron Loewen was the only LRC member competing in the Grangemouth Open Graded meeting.
Running in the mixed 3000 metres race, Ron finished in third place in the 23-runner field with a new personal best time of 9:00.79.
Elsewhere this week, Aaron Smyth was the only LRC junior member taking part in the Scottish Athletics Age Group Championships at Grangemouth. He just missed out qualifying for the final of the under-13 200 metres, finishing in fourth place in his heat in 30.54 seconds.
Aaron was on course for a good time in the under-13 800 metres only to be disqualified for breaking from his stagger
lane a stride too early.
Another of the club juniors, Gaby O’Donnell, had a good run in the Lanark Trail Festival 3k race where she finished first girl and second overall with a new PB run of 12:45.