Central AC runners on top form in CC League
Hosts put on a stunning show
Central AC were hosts for the first match of the East of Scotland Cross Country League on the Stirling University campus but their athletes weren’t in any mood to hand out gits.
The club took top hours in the men’s and women’s individual senior races while the ladies were first overall covering age groups from under 11 to senior.
The senior and junior men tackled a 9km course and the fast going suited Central’s Alastair Hay who sped to victory in a time of 28mins 25secs, 21 seconds ahead of team-mate Scott Green.
Excellent back-up came from Michael Wright (10h; 29:44), Scott Brember (15th and first veteran in 30:31); U20 runner Telfer Gray (26th; 32:01) and Dale Colley (46th; 33:23) to finish third on the day.
Other finishes: Andrew Orr (66th; 34:31); Chris McHardy (79th; 35:18); Donald Shaw (98th; 36:30); Iain Dunsmore (136th; 38:50); Ben Noad (140th; 39:00); Hugh Buchanan (167th; 40:57); Allan Gall (203rd; 44.47) and Cameron Campbell (204th; 44:54).
The senior and junior women’s race was over two laps of the 3km course and Central took top honours for both individual and team. Morag Millar followed up her fastest lap at last week’s relays with a comfortable win in 21:43. A strong team effort then followed through Rebecca Craig (12th; 23:34); Lauren McCulloch (15th; 24:11); Abby Rowley, making her senior debut, (19th; 24:34), Claire Houston (23rd; 25:13), Amy Hendry (31st; 25:55), Becky Hay (52nd; 27:15), Kirsten McStay (53rd; 27:19), Elinor Hanson (63rd; 28:18) and coach Rhona Scott (101st ; 32:29) showing a fine example.
The U11 races featured one lap of 1650m with the boys led home by Ray Taylor (5th; 6:08) backed up by Lewis Henry (27th; 6:50) and Rory Mackay (54th; 7:31). For the girls, Leah Gibb (8th; 6:45), Niamh McKinlay (17th; 6:58) and Isla Henry (37th ; 7:41) did a great job of filling the essential three counting places with some good running.
A great turnout of U13 runners took on a single lap of 2400m. In the boys race Aaron Middleton (17th; 10:50) was followed closely by Joshua Kennedy (18th; 10:52) and Tom Campbell (32nd; 11:14). There were more encouraging performances from Owen Eckersley (40th; 11:37), Ruairidh Burns (52nd; 11:56), Henry Crossley (56th; 12:12), Sam Gardner (57th; 12:13), Harris Whyte (68th; 12:33) and Angus Kennedy (85th; 15:10).
For the girls, Melissa Turnbull (5th; 11:06) was impressive with strong support from Carys Gibb (14th; 11:42), Catriona Kane (15th; 11:42), Mary Kealey (30th; 12:25), Brogan McMillan (32nd; 12:29) and Zoisia Paddon (45th; 13:31).
Central’s U15 boys made an impact in their 3.3km challenge with Cameron MacMillan again showing great form to finish second with an inspiring 11:05 backed-up by an excellent 11th place by Cameron Kerr (11:35) and Euan Docherty (32nd; 12:53). Euan Campbell came home 43rd in 13:30 followed in by Ross Lawrie (55th; 16:09) and Adam McGregor (57th; 19:06) to end second overall.
Ben MacMillan was always to the fore in the U17 men’s race over 6km and raced to a closeup second plce with 20:20. Cameron Fraser stuck in well to come home in 34th place and a time of 27:27.
The combined U15/U17 ladies race had the same course as U15 boys with another strong set of results for the home squad. Rosie Eckersley (U17 8th; 12:30) was first home for Central with Kyra Gibb (U17 15th; 12:52), Grace Tindall (U15 22nd; 13:11), Summer Maclean (U15 34th; 14:07), Naomi Howlieson (U15 47th, 15:02), Heidi Eik-Maxwell (55th; 15:35) and Anna MacKinnon (62 nd; 17:08). This team were fourth against strong opposition but played a key role in the overall female league position.