Anna is key as varsity retain the title

Kinloss athlete Anna Macfadyen played a key role as Edinburgh University retained the senior women’s title in the Scottish cross-country relay championships at Cumbernauld.

The law and French undergraduate gave the students a clear lead when recording 13min 47sec on the opening leg while Holly Page (13:52),Rebecca Johnson (14:17) and Steph Pennycook (13:35) completed the job over the remainder of the fourstage contest.

Macfadyen’s time was the fifth fastest of the day.

Tain athlete Constance Nankivell (14:19) was in the Edinburgh B squad, along with Aberdeen’s Hannah Morrison (15:29) and Rebecca Eggeling 15:07), which finished ninth.

She said: “I’ll be trying to defend my title in the Scottish 4km championships next month then I’ve got the Great Britain European championship team trials at Liverpool after that.”

Scotland junior hill running international Grace Whelan (15:09) anchored Moray Road Runners to 21st position on the club’s debut appearance in the championships. Kirstie Rogan (15:01), Justine Blazek (17:29) and Michelle Slater 16:20) were the other team members.

The Metro Aberdeen trio of Julie Hendry, Ruth Wolfe and Hazel Wyness finished sixth in the masters race, won by Hunters Bog Trotters.

The Inverness Harriers squad of Zoe Sharp, Grace MacDonald and Megan Keith became the first north club to pick up medals in the girls’ race.

Fife AC won the title in 28:29 with Giffnock North second in a time of 28:54.

Inverness took bronze in 29:01.