Scotland athletes all set for XC international action in Belfast

Wednesday 19th January 2022

Louisa Brown of Garscube and Hannah Ryding of Giffnock North went 1-2 in the U17 Women’s race at the Inter-Districts and will now represent Scotland U20s (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Belfast info (including link to live stream)

Scotland teams head for Belfast this weekend as our cross country teams compete in the Celtic Nations XC and the Home Countries XC.

Around 30 athletes will make the journey and wear Scotland vests across four age groups on Saturday in Northern Ireland.

There have been a couple of changes since we announced the team towards the end of December, with those selections based around aound the British Cross Challenge event in Liverpool and the Lindsays District XC Champs.

Jamie Crowe misses out through injury while there’s a change in the U23 Women’s team as Sarah Tait steps in with Naomi Lang unable to compete. There is a further change at U17 Women with Olivia Clarke missing out and Millie McClelland-Brooks now selected.

Hard lines to those who have had to withdraw and congratulations to Sarah and Millie on their call-ups. We send our good luck wishes to all now involved and their families and coaches as well as the clubs involved in their development over a number of years.

Belfast event page (Northern Ireland athletics)

Here are the Scotland teams . . .

Senior Men:

Stuart McCallum (Winchester); Lachlan Oates (Shettleston Harriers); Scott Stirling (Falkirk Vics/Edinburgh Uni)

Senior Women:

Mhairi Maclennan (Inverness Harriers); Scout Adkin (Moorfoot/Knavesmire)

U23 Men:

Christian Graham (Lasswade/Dundee Uni); Hamish Armitt (Giffnock North AC); Ben MacMillan (Central AC/Stirling Uni); Alastair Marshall (Central AC/Stirling Uni)

U23 Women:

Megan Keith (Inverness Harriers/Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds); Hannah Anderson (East Kilbride AC/Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds); Grace Molloy (Linlithgow/Oxford Uni); Sarah Tait (Stirling Uni/Lasswade AC)

Alastair Marshall was second at the Inter-District XC at Irvine and races for Scotland U23s (photo by Bobby Gavin)

U20 Men:

Lewis Hannigan (Kilbarchan AAC); Reuben Macdonald (Giffnock North); Fraser Gilmour (VP-Glasgow); Andrew McGill (Livingston AC)

U20 Women:

Louisa Brown (Garscube Harriers); Hannah Ryding (Giffnock North); Georgia Ledingham (Corstorphine AAC); Kirsty Purcell (Aberdeen/Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds)

Corey Campbell of Team East Lothian and Connor Bell of Central AC went 1-2 at Irvine and now represent Scotland at U17 level (photo by Bobby Gavin)

U17 Men:

Corey Campbell (Team East Lothian); Connor Bell (Central AC); Craig Shennan (Giffnock North); Oliver Patton (Kilbarchan AAC)

U17 Women:

Freya Campbell (Giffnock North); Amy Teasdale (Kilbarchan AAC); Jessica Inglis (Law and District AAC); Millie McClelland-Brooks (Inverclyde AC/Glasgow School of Sport)

We make it around 20 different Scottish clubs represented across this selection which reflects well on widespread hard work by volunteer coaches and club helpers to develop athletes along the pathway.

The Senior and U20 teams compete in the Home Countries XC and the U23, U20 and U17 teams compete in the Celtic Nations XC.

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Megan Keith has won three Cross Challenge races so far at Cardiff, Milton Keynes and Liverpool (photo by Mark Shearman)

Athletics Weekly – British Cross Challenge tables

British Cross Challenge points will be awarded via this weekend’s races and there are a number of Scots placed highly in the overall series . . .

Megan Keith and Hamish Armitt lead the U20 standings for Women and Men; Louisa Brown is second equal in U17 Women; Freya Campbell is fifth in the U15 Girls category; Craig Shennan is second at U15 Boys; Calum Dick is third at U13 Boys.

Great representation there for Giffnock North AC with Hamish, Freya, Craig and Calum there !

Eloise Walker is fifth at Senior Women but is not racing this weekend.

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Selection criteria WUCS 2022 – Cross Country FINAL

The selection policy document for this year’s World University Cross Country Championships in Portugal on March 12 March is available via the pdf above.

There is a long course for both women and men plus a mixed relay event so Scottish Students interested are asked to read the selection policy carefully with regard to how to nominate yourself for these as the relay event does not have a trial.

Athletes who wish to be considered for selection, including the relays, must submit the online registration on the BUCS website by noon on Monday 24 January.