Anna retains title and boosts team

Kinloss athlete Anna Macfadyen successfully retained her Scottish under-20 women’s title while Tain’s Constance Nankivell struck bronze in the national short course cross-country championships.

Both athletes also played a key role in securing the senior women’s team title for Edinburgh University.

Macfadyen, a Great Britain junior international, finished fourth overall in the 4km race which was combined with the senior women’s event, recording 13min 39sec.

Kilbarchan’s Jemma Reekie took the senior title in 13:07, defeating Central AC’s Morag Millar by two seconds, while Edinburgh University’s Steph Pennycook finished third in 13:19.

Nankivel, 18, making her debut for the Edinburgh University first team, finished 16th overall, but third in the under-20 age division, in 14:17.

Pennycook, Macfadyen, Nankivell and 12th placed Rebecca Johnson gave Edinburgh 35 points, the same as Kilbarchan AAC. The student’s collected gold on countback, Nankivell’s performmance as final scorer proving crucial as she finished three places ahead of Kilbarchan’s final counter to earn her side victory.

Nankivell said:”It’s the first time I have won national cross-country medals.I was so pleased to be part of the team as there is such a strong squad.”

There were also team medals for Aberdeen students Zoe Bates (18th, 14:25) and Hannah Cameron (37 th,14:50) who were in the Edinburgh AC side which finished third. Bates was fourth in the under-20 age group.

Metro Aberdeen’s Scotland international Kayleigh Jarrett was 20th in 14:29.