Stirling stages Scottish Marathon Champs

Thursday 25th April 2019

Central AC’s Michael Wright crosses the line to win Stirling last year (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Wright and McGill claim 2018 marathon golds

Scottish championship medals are up for grabs when the Stirling Scottish Marathon is staged for a third time this weekend.

Thousands of runners will hit the road on Sunday morning for this popular GreatRun event – with half marathon action part of the programme, too.

Scottish medals were on offer for the first time at this particular race 12 months ago as Michael Wright of Central AC and Fife AC’s Alison McGill took the victories.

Wright is set to try and defend that title come Sunday and, although it is always difficult to forecast challengers on paper, other contenders could include the likes of Donnie McDonald of Inverness Harriers.

Fife AC’s Kevin Wood could well be another to look out for. The American athlete, who is studying in St Andrews, was a silver medallist at the Lindsays National XC and claimed the win in the Alloa Half Marathon in 68.23 – ahead of Central AC’s Wright.

Photos on Facebook from 2018 event

Lesley Pirie of VP-Glasgow won the Stirling race in the first year of event, taking the 2017 honours in a time of 2.47.36 (chip) and returns this weekend for what looks to be her first marathon since the autumn of 2017. Pirie won a Scottish Champs silver in London back in 2016.

Central AC’s Jenn Wetton, a previous Scottish title winner at Inverness in 2014, will have podium ambitions after showing good form this year thus far including a second place at the Alloa Half.

But there could well be challenges from Hazel Wyness of Metro Aberdeen, Fife AC Masters athlete Angela Howe and Chloe Cox of Edinburgh AC.

*There’s a big club entry, too, for the Stirling Half Marathon on Sunday – with around 475 names on lists giving their club. Good to see so many clubs represented including a large contingent from West End Road Runners in Glasgow!

Mike Crawley and Sarah Brown took the honours in the Half Marathon last year.