The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Wilson can cap award with glory for Scotland In-form Strachan is chasing some big scalps in Leeds race
Moray’s Kenny Wilson hopes to follow up a successful week by running a fast time when he competes for Scotland in Sunday’s Leeds Abbey Dash 10km road race.
The Craigellachie runner was named Moray sports personality of the year on Monday when he also received the senior sports athlete of the year award.
Now he’s looking forward to representing his country in the Yorkshire race, which always attracts a high-quality field.
He said: “It’s been a good spell for me recently as I got a late call-up to the Scotland team for Leeds then received the awards so I’m hoping to top things off by running well on Sunday.
“I feel I’m in shape to improve on my best time of 30min 25sec. It hasn’t quite happened for me over 10km this year so maybe it will click this weekend.”
Wilson’s rivals include Cameron Strachan, who isn’t in the Scotland team, but the Metro Aberdeen runner will have his eye on taking some big scalps.
The Dunecht-based athlete has been in outstanding form this year, winning the Elsick and Westhill 10km races and bringing his best time down from 33:53 to 31:20, which he recorded in Glasgow in September.
Last weekend he recorded the sixth-fastest time of the day in the Scottish cross- country relay championships at Cumbernauld and is relishing the prospect of pitching in against some of Britain’s best.
He said: “I’ve spent the past three months specifi- cally targeting the Leeds race so I hope I can do well.
“I think I’m in shape to run under 31 minutes. There’s a couple of guys in the Scotland team who have run times in the range I’m looking for so maybe I can try keeping up with them.”
Strachan is joined by clubmates Hamish Battle, Ben Ward and Chris Richardson.
Mhairi Maclennan (Inverness Harriers) lines up alongside Olympian Eilish McColgan (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) in the Scottish women’s team.
McColgan set a course record time of 32:05 when winning last year while Maclennan was ninth in a personal best 33:55.
Maclennan’s Inverness clubmate Jenny Bannerman and Claire Bruce (Metro Aberdeen), who finished third in the Scottish half marathon championships in Glasgow in September, will also be looking for fast performances in the top quality field.