Butchart produces a five-star performance
Central AC senior men continued their winning ways at the Scottish Short Course Cross Country Championships over a fast 4km course in Kirkcaldy on Saturday.
And it was Olympian Andrew Butchart, back to his cross country roots to claim his third title at this short distance to add to a double over the full 10km, who led home a winning Central team with the club’s newest young seniors well to the fore.
Andrew’s said afterwards: “I thoroughly enjoyed it and it’s always good to claim a Scottish championship title,.
“If that’s five individual golds in cross country then I’m very pleased with that given I’m much more of a track runner now. But my roots were in cross country and I still love it.
“The mud made it a bit harder for me than it might have been – I think when the surface is as soft as that it maybe suits others better than me.”
He added: “At one stage I heard the crowd cheering people and realised those behind me were not too far away. I felt the first lap would be quicker and that’s what happened and I put in a bit of a surge to get ahead.”
Andrew finished with a time of 11 minutes 54 seconds and always looked in control over a small set of serious contenders. One of those pressing him was Central clubmate Jamie Crowe who finished in fourth place in 12.02 with an individual medal just out of reach.
Central were once again the winning team through the efforts of Under 20 runners Hamish Hickey (16th; 12.34) and Ben MacMillan (30th; 12.52) with Hamish taking second Under 20 spot.
There was further proof of the health of the club’s future as another Under 20 Tom Graham-Marr came through in 32nd place with 12.54.
Stalwart Michael Wright mastered the mud for 48th place (13.12) and there were further signs of progress from Under 20 Telfer Gray (13.29). Scott Brember got his competition year back on track as the fastest in his Masters age group and overall 69th also with 13.29 while Under 20s Sandy Holl (85th; 13.40) and Aidan Shea (90th; 13.43) put in solid performances as did Fraser Logan (91st; 13.44).
Under 20 Keir Howlieson has been missing from recent competition but here showed good form with a tasty performance in 145th with 14.26.
As what seemed like an never ending stream of runners crossed the finish line there were more than worthy efforts from David Eckersley (218th; 15.22); Under 20 Sam Burton (236th; 15.36), Charles Graham-Marr (261st; 16.04), Iain Dunsmore (288 th; 16.23), Ben Noad (337th; 17.22) and Colin Alexander (358th; 17.45).
Central’s Under 15 boys faced a onelap challenge of 2km over the undulating course and Connor Bell again caught the eye with a superb run to claim an individual bronze in 6:18. Connor is a first year Under 15 so his time gives a flavour of what could still be to come.
There was also praise for Cameron Kerr’s sixth place run in 6.22 with Euan Docherty and Ruairidh both Burns recording 7:09 for 59th and 60th respectively as the boys finished a fifth team in this age group.
Claire Houston was Central’s first finisher in the senior ladies race over 4km with her 16.28 for 70th, Trish Milne was 114th in 17.39, under 20 Elizabeth Thompson was 130th (18.05) and Jane Waterhouse 172nd (19.18) just outside medals in four th in her over 60s category in a field of 251 finishers.
A strong contingent of Under 15 girls had the same 2km fast track as the boys, with Amy Cully (15th, 7.37) showing the fastest set of heels from the Central team, ably backed up by Mirren Henry (32nd, 7.48), Melissa Turnbull (37th, 7.53), Anna McKinnon (46th, 8.04), Leona Melville (54th, 8.15), Zosia Padden (57th, 8.20), Anna Buchanan (59th, 8.21) and Scarlett Roy (68th, 8.44) finishing seventh team in a highly competitive race.