Megan fifth at World Unis; Annabel, Sean win at Inverness

Sunday 13th March 2022

Megan Keith came up with a very strong performance at the World Unis XC event in Portugal.

Competing over the 10k course, the European U20 Women’s champion took fifth place in the race with two of her British BUCS team-mates in the medals.

Isobel Fry and Saskia Millard took gold and silver with Megan home in fifth place in 31:41. The fourth British athlete, Kirsty Walker, was in ninth place.

That helped ensure team golds all round on an excellent day for Megan.

And with Mhairi Maclennan following that up later at the Inter-Counties XC, it was quite a day for female North athletes at XC!

Congratulations to Megan, her family, coach Ross Cairns and the BUCS team out in Portugal.

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Photo via Inverness Half Marathon

By Fraser Clyne

Annabel Simpson showed fine form to win the Inverness Half Marathon in 73:40 – only 19 seconds outside the course record set by Kenyan athlete Cathy Mutwa in 2007.

It was a strong run from the Fife AC athlete who scythed close to three minutes off her previous best time when finishing almost five minutes ahead of her closest challenger.

‘It’s nice to improve my personal best by so much,’ said Annabel.

‘It has been difficult over the past couple of years with Covid, so it’s good to be back competing. After my run last week, I knew something decent was possible today, but you never know.

‘I started on my own, but for most of the way I had guys to run with until the later stages when it began to break up again. The wind was in your face going up the hills so it was tough at times. But the crowd support out on the course was brilliant.’

Lauren Wilson (Edinburgh AC) was runner-up in 78:27 while Jen Wetton (Central AC) maintained her fine record of consistency at Inverness by finishing third in 78:38.

Fourth placed Avril Masson (Shettleston Harriers) was first in the W40 age group in 81:20 while fifth-placed Catriona Fraser-Lennox was the leading Inverness Harriers member when placing fifth in a personal best 81:27.

Kirstie Rogan, who was sixth in 81:28 on her half marathon debut, led Highland Hill Runners to the women’s team prize with backing from Caroline Marwick (85:41) and Katie Wilson (91:38).

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Photos via Inverness Half Marathon

Scotland international Sean Chalmers took top spot in the Inverness half marathon after a pulsating battle over the closing stages with Shettleston’s Peter Avent.

And the Aberdeen-based P.E. teacher had the home athletics fans cheering as he became the first Inverness Harrier to lift the men’s title since the race was first held in 1985.

But he was made to battle every inch of the way for his success ahead of a record field 3400 entrants.

It was only as they approached the final 300m on the track at Queen’s Park stadium that Chalmers was finally able to break clear to win in 66:16 with Avent setting a personal best time when finishing just three seconds behind.

Cambuslang’s Fraser Stewart took third position in 66:40 while Moray’s Kenny Wilson finished fourth in 66:48.

‘It was certainly very competitive, there was a different leader on so many occasion,’ said Sean.

‘There was a group of about six of us for a while with Kenny Wilson taking on the pace.

‘At six miles I began to get the same tightness in my stomach that affected me at the Seville marathon three weeks ago and I thought I might have to call it a day. But I so much wanted to be the first Inverness Harriers member to win the title and that kept me going.’

Scottish masters cross country champion Ewan Cameron (Edinburgh AC) won the V40s prize when finishing 10^th in 67:30.

Corstorphine AAC won the men’s team award through the efforts of Dougie Selman (67:12), James Dunn (67:28) and Calum McKenzie (69:24).

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Tags: Inverness Half Marathon, Megan Keith, World Unis XC