The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
It’s seconds out as rivals focus on Nairn meet
Athletics: Wilson braced for a strong challenge from Newsom
Scotland international Kenny Wilson (Moray Road Runners) expects a strong challenge from his training partner and rival John Newsom (Inverness Harriers) in the senior men’s race at the second of this season’s North District Cross-Country League meetings at Nairn tomorrow.
League title holder Wilson won the first contest at Keith last month when he finished 15sec ahead of Newsom over a tough five-mile course but he expects the outcome to be much closer this weekend.
Newsom, a two-time previous league champion, has been gradually working his way back to full fitness following injury problems and ran well to finish 13th in a closely fought Scottish 4km championship race last weekend.
Wilson said: “John did well at the 4km championships and if he runs like that on Saturday it will be tough one for me. We train together and I’ve seen him improve a lot recently, so I’m sure we are going to be battling it out. I am happy to see him back because we can push each other along and that helps both of us to get stronger.”
Newsom, who lives at Nairn, will be very familiar with the course for Saturday’s race, but Wilson is equally comfortable with it.
He said: “It’s a really exciting course and I enjoy it. There are two laps and on each one roughly a third of it is along the beach. That’s followed by some faster running on firmer ground then a more technical section through the woods. So, there’s a bit of everything.”
The under-17 boys’ race at Nairn promises to be fascinating with at least three athletes all capable of taking top spot.
Sunny McGrath (Deveron Harriers) was a clear winner at the opening match when finishing well ahead of Eoghann Gollan (East Sutherland), but Hamish Hickey (Ross County), who finished third that day, is the man in form.
Hickey, who won the River Ness 5km at the end of September, produced a strong performance at last weekend’s Scottish short course cross-country championships, finishing fifth, two places and three sec ahead of McGrath.
Gollan was also impressive when posting the fastest time of the day at the Scottish North District crosscountry relay championships last month when he was 2sec quicker than Hickey.
Ross County’s Danny McPake leads the under-15 division but he can expect a strong challenge from Blair Milne (Moray Road Runners), Lucas Cairns (Inverness Harriers) and Ben Cameron (Forres Harriers) in what should be another interesting contest.
There’s little to choose between the main contenders in the under13s with Sam Coull currently holding pole position in the division ahead of his Ross County clubmate Ruaridh Ellen and Sam Burnett (Inverness Harriers). Thomas Reynolds (Moray Road Runners) will aim to keep top position in the under-11’s league after his win over William Cook (Gordonstoun) and Archie Bain (Moray Road Runners) in round one.
“We can push each other along and that helps both of us to get stronger”