Olympian Butchart victorious
Dunblane Olympian Andy Butchart claimed the Scottish National 10k title with victory in Stirling at the weekend.
The Central AC athlete claimed his second title with his victory in the Stirling 10k on Sunday. Jenny Bannerman claimed her first ever Scottish National title with a win in the women’s race.
Host club Central AC enjoyed a great day on the roads as the yellow vests claimed team medals in both the men’s and omen’s races, with mother-of-two Jenn Wetton pushing Inverness Harriers athlete Bannerman all the way.
Bannerman won it by one second in 35.35 with Josie-Wren Golder, the U20 athlete who has just joined Corstorphine, taking third in 36.30. Butchart claimed victory in a time of 29.06. Central AC took gold and bronze in the men’s race as Alastair Hay claimed third in 29.59. James Donald of Dundee Hawkhill split the duo for silver in a time of 29.51.
Central won the men’s race with 11 points fr.om Inverclyde AC (40) and Fife AC (47).
Central won the Women’s team race with 26 points thanks to the efforts of Wetton, Natalie Stewart and Grace Tindall. PH Racing won the silvers and Edinburgh AC the bronzes.
Following the win, Butchart said:“I run here all the time and it’s my hometown race so I couldn’t turn down the chance to win a Scottish 10k title.
“I think when I was out there at the front I was actually signalling right and left to the guys behind me because I know the course well.
“I was able to pull clear quite early on and certainly by about 4k. The conditions were fine and it was a decent run.”
Butchart and his partner, fellow runner Lynsey Sharp, are expecting a new family addition in the coming months. Butchart added:“With our baby due in mid-November I’m going to carry on running for the moment and then take a break around that time. I think I will have other duties at that stage.
“So I’m going to race on the roads and cross country in Scotland over the coming months. I’ve been away an awful lot in 2021 with races, training camps, the Olympics and more races and Lynsey has had a lot of time on her own. I am sure I will enjoy getting into cross country again and representing Central.”