Eilish 10K PB; Antrim XC; East League; Paton

Monday 16th January 2017

Athletes represented Scotland in Antrim over the weekend but before turning to the mud of Northern Ireland first stop has to be Doha and a superb performances by Eilish McColgan.

The 2012 and 2016 Olympian is re-writing her PBs and came up with 31.56 (chip time) in the Ooreedo Doha 10k – despite an early-morning rise.

Eilish is now second on the Scottish all-time list for the distance with her mother and coach, Liz, holding the record. We understand Eilish is also now 10^th equal on the British all-time liast as she starts 2017 in great form.

‘Getting up at 4.30am was a bit of a shock to the system but happy to come away with 31.56 official chip time at Ooreedo Doha 10K,’ she said, with the Scot’s gun time given as 32.01, with Eilish’s PB having been at 32.32 from Sheffield in early December.

‘Tired legs but great to kick off 2017!’

Liz’s record was 30.39 in Orlando in 1989 and three athletes had held second place with 32.24 – Yvonne Murray, Kathy Butler and Hayley Haining.

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Shettleston athlete Lachlan Oates – fine sixth place at Antrim (pictured here at the West District XC)

Antrim XC Results

Scottish athletes headed over the Irish Sea for the latest British Cross Challenge Series event at the Antrim International XC.

And the contingent didn’t disappoint with good performances across the age groups – from the Senior races which are laden with African visitors down to U13 level.

Five athletes were selected to represent Scotland, wearing those new navy blue Macron vests amid the mud, and there was also a welcome comeback to cross country for Derek Hawkins.

Lachlan Oates of Shettleston edged out Jamie Crowe of Central AC for sixth place in the Senior Men’s race by only four seconds with 23.54 to 25.58 – reversing the outcome from the previous week in Edinburgh, where Jamie Crowe third from Oates.

Making it three Scots in the top ten was Derek Hawkins at 10^th place on 26.14, as the Olympian dipped his toe in the water at a significant level for the first time since Rio and his first XC outing for quite some time.

Inter-District champion Morag MacLarty headed the Scotland selection in the Women’s race and came home in 10^th place, only just behind one of the Ethiopian visitors.

Morag clocked 2025 and was followed in at 14^th by Steph Pennycook in 21.08. Shettleston’s Fionnuala Ross took 16^th place and our third Scotland selection, Nicola Hood, was 17^th in 21.32.

Sol Sweeney won his first GB and NI vest at the Great Edinburgh XC in the Junior Men’s race and he was back in action again in Antrim.Fourth place in the U20 race will keep the Perth Strathtay in the hunt for the overall British Cross Challenge Series prize-money.

Giffnock North AAC always send strong representation to this event and 2017 was no different, as the Glasgow club picked up team prizes in both U15 races. Lynn and Charlotte McKenna took third and four place in the U17 race, with Andrew Love ninth in the Boys race and Hamish Armitt second at U15.

In the U15 Girl race, there was a win for VP-Glasgow athlete Lily-Jane Evans-Haggerty with Giffnock pair Heather Barnes and Kate Richardson at third and fifth.

In the U13 Girls race, Fife’s Anna Hedley won from Valencia Wright of VP-Glasgow with Anya MacLean of Garscube in fourth place.

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Sarah Inglis (photo by Neil Renton)

East League Results

Once again the East League proved that our cross country scene is going from strength to strength – with a record 793 finishers for a third league meeting of the season at Broxburn on Saturday.

Central AC men were fourth on the day but still retained their overall league title once again. Edinburgh AC won the Senior Women’s team race and the overall title.

Logan Rees gave Fife AC  a first individual success in the Senior Men’s race for many years as he won it from Michael Christoforou of Edinburgh AC and Will Mackay of Aberdeen AAC.

Sarah Inglis took the Women’s race with a win from Jennifer Wetton of Central AC and Edinburgh AC’s Rebecca Burns.

Thanks to all the clubs and coaches involved in the East League as well as the volunteer helpers who assisted at the meetings.

With thanks to Alex Jackson

*The North XC League meeting on Saturday had to be cancelled because of snow in the Strathpeffer area.

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Heather Paton – pictured at Loughborough in 2016

The good news continues from last weekend and delighted to highlight a PB for Scottish athlete Heather Paton in the 60m Hurdles.

The Birchfield Harrier, who won at Loughborough in 8.40 to improve her previous best by 0.18, is now 3rd on the Scottish all-time list and within 0.06 of Gemma Werrett’s Scottish record.

Congratulations to Heather, her family and her coach!

With thanks to Arnold Black

 

Tags: Antrim XC, East League, Eilish McColgan, Jamie Crowe. Derek Hawkins, Lachlan Oates, Liz McColgan, Morag MacLarty, Nicola Hood, Steph Pennycook