New contenders come to the fore as Run Garioch makes return

A mixture of opportunities for new champions and returning winners aiming to defend their titles make up the 2023 edition of Run Garioch on Sunday.

Aberdeen AAC’s Aaron Odentz, who won the 5k and 10k last year, is not competing this weekend but race support manager Christine Appel believes there are several candidates vying for his crown.

She said: “In the 5k we have Caleb McGuire (Dandara/AAAC), who was second last year, and Jamie Reid (GSC), who finished third, returning.

“Last year’s half marathon winner Jason Kelly (Metro Aberdeen) will be running the 10k this year too.

“Chloe Gray (Metro), who won the 5k, is coming back. She was second at the Balmoral 10k and fourth in the 5k a couple of weeks ago so she has been busy.

“Moira Davie (Forres Harriers), who was second last year and third in the Balmoral 10k, is also coming back, so we’re expecting a good slug-out in the 5k.” The established order face a stern test from some of the up-and-coming runners.

Appel said: “We’ve got some younger runners on the horizon too. Rhian Birnie, Iona Hoyle and Kyle Gibson are teenagers who I think will give the established club runners a run for their money too.

“The exciting thing about the 5k is you have 13, 14 and 15-year-olds coming up so I’m fascinated to see how that pans out.

“In the 10k we have Nicola MacDonald (Metro Aberdeen), last year’s winner, coming back along with Kelly Vine-Jones who finished second. Nicola Gauld, who won in 2019 and is the only woman to win it outright, is also back.

“In the half marathon it looks an open field for the men’s race. Rosa Donaldson (Glasgow University) will be back to defend her women’s title from last year.”

The 5k kicks off the day, with the junior races rounding off the action between 1pm and 2pm.

Jason Kelly is one of the contenders at Run Garioch.