The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Ferguson gets call-up to Scottish relay team
● Aberdeen AAC’s Ferguson to compete for nation in Stirling
Aberdeen AAC’s Michael Ferguson has been called into the Scotland team for the international 4x1.5km relay in Saturday’s Great Stirling cross country meeting.
He replaces Perth Strathtay’s Sol Sweeney who last weekend retained the Scottish indoor 3,000m title and has now decided to compete over 1,500m in tomorrow’s national open track meeting at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena.
Ferguson, who last represented his country in 2017, was originally going to be competing for the East team in the Scottish inter-district 8km men’s championship race being held at the same venue.
Ferguson is joined in the Scotland team by Mhairi Hendry of VPGlasgow, Adam Craig of Inverclyde AC and Edinburgh University runner Steph Pennycook and they will race against a Great Britain side which includes Dundee Hawkhill’s European 1500m champion Laura Muir.
American and European select teams will also take part along with a Scotland under-20 quartet.
Great Britain internationals Mhairi Maclennan of Inverness Harriers and Anna Macfadyen from Forres Harriers, who both attend Edinburgh University, lead a strong Scottish student side in the national interdistrict cross country championships being held alongside the international races at Strling.
Clare Stewart of Banchory Stonehaven AC, Zoe Bates of Aberdeen University and Constance Nankivell from East Sutherland are also in the student squad.
Jennifer Elvin has returned from her new home in France to represent the East in the race along with her Metro Aberdeen clubmates Ginie Barrand and Claire Bruce.
Stornoway’s Eilidh Mackenzie heads the North side which also includes Scotland international Kayleigh Jarrett from Elgin AAC.
Metro Aberdeen’s Cameron Strachan will tune up for his Scotland debut in the following weekend’s home countries international match in Belfast representing the East in the men’s race along with Aberdeen AAC’s Will Mackay and Tyler White.
Kenny Wilson of Moray Road Runners and Hamish Hickey from Ross County AC, who are also heading for Northern Ireland with the Scotland squad, are in the North team which also includes Great Britain international Rob Sinclair of Insch Trail Running Club .
Caithness athlete Andy Douglas will turn out for the West while Aberdeen runner Alexander Chepelin from Edinburgh University and Ross County’s Finlay Todd are included in the Scottish Students’ men’s team for the event.