Bruce defends title after national success

Scottish championship bronze-medallist Claire Bruce bids to retain the women’s title in Sunday’s Fraserburgh half marathon.

The Metro Aberdeen runner swept to victory 12 months ago by posting what at that point was her fastest time of 1hr 20min 51sec.

She improved to 1:18:27 when claiming her national medal in Glasgow’s Great Scottish Run at the end of September but Bruce does not believe she’s in shape to match that performance this weekend.

Bruce said: “I aimed to peak for the Glasgow race and I think that’s what happened. I was delighted with the time I got and, of course, getting the bronze medal.

“I don’t think I’m ready to run that fast on Sunday at Fraserburgh. I might be around the same time I did last year but it depends on what happens on the day.”

Lisa Allan (Fraserburgh Running Club), runner-up last year, will also be competing with the aim of improving on her best time of 1:29:28 set when finishing fourth in the Kinloss to Lossiemouth race earlier in the year.

The 2017 bronze medallist, Hazel Wyness (Metro Aberdeen), will also be hoping to step up. The Peterhead half marathon winner recorded a PB 1:27:31 when finishing ahead of Allan at Kinloss-Lossiemouth.

She also showed good form to take third position in September’s Loch Ness marathon and was runner-up in the Brodie 10km earlier this month.

Wyness’s clubmates Sarah Milne, Julie Thomson and Alison Pilichos are others aiming to be among the leading finishers.

Stonehaven’s Ann Gallon, winner of the inaugural Deveron Valley half marathon in September, is also a contender.