The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Mhairi chases third victory at Falkirk
Runner Mhairi MacLennan hopes to maintain her 14-year love affair with the Lindsays Scottish cross country championships by winning the senior women’s title for a third time at Falkirk’s Callendar Park tomorrow.
The 26-year-old Inverness Harriers club member first took part in the winter season’s premier event in 2008 when she finished fourth in the under-13 girls’ race and she has turned out on 12 occasions since then.
She said: “The year 2008 was the first time I competed in any national level competition and I really wasn’t well prepared.
“I had pretty much flatsoled trainers which I used for everything, but they weren’t the best for cross country. I couldn’t understand why I was slipping around when no one else was.”
MacLennan has competed in all age groups at the national every year since then other than in 2016 when she was studying in Spain, while the 2021 event was cancelled because of the pandemic.
She won her first medal in 2015, collecting silver in the under-20’s race. Her first senior title came in 2018 and after finishing fourth in 2019 she added another gold the following year.
It’s a fine record but MacLennan is typically modest about her achievements, saying: “I really didn’t expect to finish as high as second in the under-20 championships.
“And for my senior titles, to be honest, I fully appreciate that the competition wasn’t as strong as it might have been had everyone shown up.
“But I guess you can only beat who’s there on the day and I’m always happy to take a title.
“The Scottish cross country title is probably one of the most significant ones to win at national level and it’s always amazing to win.”
MacLennan goes into tomorrow’s 10k race full of confidence after an impressive third place finish behind Kenya’s Hellen Obiri and England’s Hannah Irwin in last month’s World Athletics Northern Ireland international match and feels she has progressed since then. She said: “I’ve had a really good block of training and I’m feeling good, so we’ll see how it goes. I love the course at Falkirk and it’s always a good one to do.
“I haven’t looked at the entry list but I know Central AC’s Morag Millar will be there and she’s always strong. I enjoy racing against her, it’s never boring.”
Naomi Lang will lead Aberdeen AAC’s team. The Scotland international has recovered from an Achilles injury which has prevented her from competing since finishing second behind Morag Millar at the East District championships in early December.
Shetland’s Michelle Sandison, winner of the Scottish masters title in Aberdeen earlier in the month, is to represent Springburn Harriers while North District cross country league champion Kirstie Rogan will turn out for Highland Hill Runners.
“I’ve had a really good block of training and I’m feeling good