Young Athletes Road Races

Thursday 15th March 2018

Greenock hosts the Young Athletes Road Races on Sunday – and this year once again there’s the chance for athletes in the older age groups to win the chance to race for Scotland in London.

It’s happening at Battery Park in Greenock beside the Clyde on Sunday (18 March) with six races through from 11.30am to 1.15pm in the U17, U15 and U13 age groups.

The London Mini Marathon changed their approach to entries a couple of years ago and the earlier deadline for team names ensured the Scottish Young Athletes Road Races could not be used for selection trial purposes at that time.

However, that has now changed again, and we are pleased the races at Greenock will now once form the key trials for the four Scotland teams (of six athletes each) to be selected.

These are for U17 and U15 races and the first four athletes across the line in those age groups will be selected for London with two more discretionary places to be decided.

Unfortunately, due to the severe weather a couple of weeks ago, the Scottish Schools XC was postponed at Hopetoun House and will take place this Saturday – with SIAB XC places up for grabs there.

We wish athletes, coaches and parents all the best in deciding on either competing in both events or putting a main focus on one or the other in what has been a difficult situation for event organisers.

Race schedule for Sunday (declarations close 30 minutes before start)

U15 Girls: 11.30am

U15 Boys: 11.55am

U13 Girls: 12.20pm

U13 Boys: 12.35pm

U17 Women: 12.50pm

U17 Men: 1.15pm

London Mini Marathon, as well as changing the date for selections, have also confirmed a re-think on the age groups – and thus our Scotland teams at U15 and U17 level are dictated to by the following information:

U15:

Must be 13 or 14 on 31 August 2017;  Born between 1 September 2002 and 31 August 2004

U17:

Must be 15 or 16 on 31 August 2017;  Born between 1 September 2000 and 31 August 2002

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Hundreds of school athletes will head for Hopetoun House near South Queensferry for the Scottish Schools XC – rearranged from a couple of weeks ago (as mentioned above).

There are races across the age groups and entry lists and other information is on the Scottish Schools website.

Selections for the schools international event at Nottingham the following week will be made after the Scottish Schools event.

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Forres Harriers play host to the British Masters Cross Country Champs 2018 on Saturday with more than 200 names on the entry list, we understand.

The venue is Grant Park, Victoria Road, Forres, Scotland, IV36 3BT and the races are as follows:  8k (Men 35-64); 6k (Men 65+ Women)

Age groups are men and women in five year age bands from V35 with medals for the first three and first three teams in each age category (teams are in 10-year brackets).

Competition contact: memsec@bmaf.org.uk

 

Tags: Greenock, London Mini Marathon, Young Athletes Road Races