Central runners impress at chilly meeting
There was another excellent turnout of Central Athletic Club runners at Alloa for the second match of the East of Scotland Cross Country League on Saturday.
The day started with the under-11 girls race over 1700metres with Melissa Turnbull finishing in a fine second place in an excellent 6min 57secs. Leah Stenhouse (19th ; 7.43), Mary Kealey (20th ; 7.49) and Brogan McMillan (25th ; 8.01) completed Central’s challenge with the girls finishing third on the day and in overall second place in the league. The under-11 boys raced over the same course and here it was Connor Bell (24th ; 7.08) who led home Central’s challenge ahead of determined running from Innes Brown (48th ; 7.40), Owen Eckersley (71st ; 8.01), Kieran Mooney (76th ; 8.08) and Sam Jones (91st ; 8.52).
The under-13s had to contend with a 3000metre course and in the girls race it was Anna MacKinnon who proved the strongest of Central’s runners, finishing in 25th place with 13.44, while great back-up was provided by Amy Culley (35th ; 14.02), Summer MacLean (41st ; 14.37), Rebecca Watson (42nd ; 14.37), Ellen Montgomery (55th ; 15.47), Megan Dunlop (58th, 15.54) and Ellie Ross (67th; 17.35). The boys race saw strong runs from Finlay Muir (seventh; 11.27), Cameron Kerr (ninth; 11.49) and Euan Campbell (12.14) with the Boys finishing as second team on the day. The under-15 girls and under17 ladies ran together over a 3800 metre course and it was Central’s Kate Gallagher who again led the team in with an overall sixth placing in 15.42. Back-up was provided by Lauren McCulloch (12th; 16.17) and under-15 Kyra Gibb (27th ; 17.00) with the team finishing third overall. The under-15 boys contested the same course and Gregor McArthur (16th; 15.24) led home the team ahead of resolute performances from Thomas Woods (24th ; 15.52), Daniel Bruce (26th ; 15.56), Kyle Howie (37th ; 16.40), Cameron Fraser (51st ; 17.37) and Ben Hughes (56th ; 18.18) with Central’s runners placing sixth. Tom GrahamMarr was the sole under-17 man from Central and here he had a more than useful run to finish 24th , recording 25min 34secs. The senior women also tackled the 6200metres course and here it was Jennifer Wetton who showed her class to finish in an excellent second place in 24.37 with the team finishing second on the day and are second overall in the league.
The senior men’s race of three laps and some 9000metres proved to be a true test of strength and stamina which saw Dale Colley head Central’s challenge in third overall with a confident run of 30min 52secs. Campbell Milne in seventh (31.29) and with Chris Smithard (11th; 31.59), Alex Hendry (16th ; 32.49), Robert Russell (21st ; 33.24) and Colin Logan (31st ; 33.59) saw the team finishing second on the day and lead the league overall.
Under-20 runner Rory Strachan (37th ; 34.18) was first of the back-up runners ahead of Central’s first veteran runner Scott Bremner (44th ; 34.52), who finished as second veteran on the day. Indeed, Scott led in a winning veteran’s team including Ewan Jack (70th ; 36.12) and David Eckersley (85th ;37.13).