From Holland to Forres and Perthshire . . . it’s great to be back!

Monday 7th June 2021

Jemma Reekie pictured during the 2020 season (photo by Chris Cooper)

Jake Wightman and Jemma Reekie picked up where Eilish McColgan had left off at the FBK Games in Holland.

If McColgan had been the star of Saturday night across our channels then Wightman, Reekie and also Laura Muir seized their chance in Hengelo on Sunday afternoon.

It’s all about preparations for the Olympic Trials in Manchester at the end of the month, of course, and Jemma continued her winning streak by taking a very busy Women’s 800m with a front run to come home in 2.00.77. Laura finished fast for second in 2.00.95.

Then Jake stepped up to 1500m after his recent win in Poland as GB and NI captain at the Euro Team Champs when he was successful over 800m. The Scottish 1500m Record holder proved his class to time his last lap surge perfectly to see off a strong field and win in 3:34.67.

Guy Learmonth was ninth in a messy men’s 800m race in a time of 1:48.50.

Zoey Clark was in action in the National Athletics League for Thames Valley Harriers. On a hectic day, Zoey clocked 51.99 for her 400m, 23.6 for a 200m and was also involved in 4x400m action, with a 51.4 split.

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Photo via Carol Sim

Results are on the North District RR and CC Facebook page

Just over 36 hours after recording a 3000m PB of 9:19.05 on the track at Friday night’s GAA Miler Meet in Linwood, Megan Keith was back in action closer to home on Sunday morning.

The Back to Basics 10k event in Forres, in two Covid secure waves, saw road racing return to the North after a six-month break.

Keith led home an Inverness Harriers 1-2-3 in 35:06 despite a headwind in the last two miles to take the honours from fellow Scotland internationalist Jenny Bannerman (35:42) while Catriona Fraser completed the Inverness trio in 36:31.

Max Abernethy of Fraserburgh, racing for the first time since the autumn of 2019, won the men’s contest in 31:34 ahead of Ben Ward of Metro Aberdeen (31:49), with Shaun Cumming of Highland Hill Runners third in 31:54.

With thanks to Charles Bannerman

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Great to see racing again & happy to be supporting #strathearnmarathon in rural Perthshire. Last wave seen going off here Good job #strathearnharriers. @Tartanshorts @runABCscotland @scotathletics ?@TaritTweets pic.twitter.com/WqIHOhHf0t

— Run and Become (@runandbecome1) June 6, 2021

Results from Strathearn Marathon

There were road race events taking place elsewhere in Scotland, too, including the Strathearn Marathon in Perthshire.

Jason Kelly of Metro Aberdeen came up with a new Course Record run of 2:33.07 on what is a hilly marathon route. The previous best had been at 2:39.

Alison McGill of Fife AC won the women’s race in 3:07.58 with around 150 runners in the field.

Well done to organisers Strathearn Harriers, local authorities and Run and Become.