NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY RELAYS: DISPLAYS OF BRILLIANCE BY CENTRAL AND SHETTLESTON

25th October 2009

There was a sense of déjà vu at yesterday’s Scottish National Cross Country Relay Championships (Saturday 24th October); Central AC dominated the senior women’s race from start to finish as they did 12 months ago; Edinburgh AC won the young females race in a performance which matched their East District victory, while Shettleston’s men came out on top in both junior and senior events, the latter quartet securing gold in the faultless manner to which we’ve become accustomed.

On a bright, sunny afternoon, that in itself a triumph over the pre-race forecast, both victorious senior teams led from gun to tape, Central AC in particular impressive given than only one of their East District winning trio was in the ‘A’ team, evidencing the strength and depth of the Stirling-based club.

Liz McColgan-coached Morag MacLarty, repeating her performance of 12 months ago, was outstanding on the opening leg, clocking 14:47 – the fastest lap of the day – challenged only by her training partner Lily Partridge (15:13) for Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, the Great Britain & Northern Ireland cross country representative for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Jordan earlier this year.

MacLarty, clearly returning to the form which saw her narrowly miss out on a medal in last winter’s European Cross Country Championships (under-23), had the benefit of a strong team to back her up, while Partridge and second leg Laura Brown, were unfortunate not to have an anchor leg to capitalise on their impressive start.

Taking over from Central’s second leg Fiona Thompson, hill running internationalist Catriona Buchanan, winner of the Junior Home International (under-18) for Scotland in early October, merited her first team selection when recording the fifth fastest time if the day (15:26) to race home two minutes clear of runners up Kilbarchan and Hunters Bog Trotters in third.

In an almost identical performance, Shettleston Harriers’ men – who were defeated by Central AC in an exciting battle 12 months ago – made no mistakes on this occasion with a brilliant display of cross country running.

Led off by Tsegezab Woldemichael, the West District champions were already 20 seconds clear as Tewoldeberhan Mengisteab took over on the second leg, clocking the second fastest men’s time of the day (12:46).

On the penultimate lap, Amanuel Hagus maintained pole position with 13:30, before an exceptional anchor leg by junior Tsegei Tewelde, when in a repeat performance of his West District performance a fortnight ago he recorded the fastest time of the day to secure a brilliant victory (12:43).

Kilbarchan junior Callum Hawkins, who has been outstanding over 3000m on the track this summer, chased Woldemichael home on lap one to pass on to Conor McNulty in second place with 13:12, with Corstorphine AAC, at that stage, in third.

While Shettleston maintained their lead, the minor places changed hands as Ross Houston pulled Central from sixth up to third on the second leg, McNulty and then Derek Hawkins holding on to second for Kilbarchan.

On the anchor leg, Central’s Alastair Hay was brilliant, racing to the third fastest time of the day (12:49) to finish second overall, with Kilbarchan third.

The most exciting event of the day came in the young male’s race. Only two weeks ago, Shettleston’s Andrew Dearie out-dipped Victoria Park City of Glasgow’s Max Aitchison to win the West District title. Yesterday, it was another close call, and it was Dearie who once again battled through the final bend to steal victory from defending champions Giffnock North AAC.

Both clubs has slow starts, Shettleston coming off leg one in 19th, with Giffnock in seventh, but second leg runners Ahmed Hassan and Jonathon Tweedie brought them into contention before strong anchor leg performances from Dearie and Grant Muir secured gold and silver respectively, with Kilbarchan, who had placed consistently throughout, finishing third.

Repeating their East District Championship winning performance of a fortnight ago, Edinburgh AC won the young females race in an East of Scotland one-two ahead of Pitreavie AAC and Giffnock North, West District cross country champions.

Emily Strathdee passed on to second leg runner Emma Dunnett in eighth, but Dunnett was exceptional, clocking the fastest lap (10:00) to build an unassailable lead, before Emily Dudgeon, recording 10:12, raced home for victory.

A record number of teams finished (297).

For full results follow the link.

Picture: Senior men's start (thanks to Tony Waterhouse)