Lindsays Short Course XC – our round-up on U17/U15 races

Sunday 5th November 2023

Millie McClelland-Brooks on her way to gold in the U17 Women’s race (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Millie McClelland Brooks made it a week to remember as she followed up her Scottish U17 Athlete of the Year award with cross country gold in Lanark.

The Inverclyde AC athlete won in fine style across the firm surface at Lanark Racecourse and will step-up to U20 soon at Liverpool.

‘It’s been a great few days with winning the U17 Athlete of the Year award at the Annual Dinner last weekend and now this,’ she said.

‘I’m planning to race in Liverpool in a few weeks in the U20 age group, stepping up from U17.

‘I won’t travel with too many expectations of myself – it is more a case of testing myself against those of a similar are from around Britain. But this win gives me more confidence and hopefully I can have a good run.’

The silver medal went to Natsai Nyabadza (Harmeny AC) and third to Zara Redmond (Kilbarchan AAC).

In the team results, Giffnock North were winners, followed by Kilbarchan AAC, with Edinburgh AC completing the podium.

We salute you! Andrew McWilliam enjoys his golden moment at Lanark (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Andrew McWilliam (Lasswade AAC) won the U17M race, with Oliver Patton (Kilbarchan AAC) taking silver and Jamie Connor (Giffnock North) in third.

It was another team win for Giffnock North, with Lasswade AAC in second and Aberdeen AAC landing third.

‘Andrew won a 3000m title on the track during the summer but this is his first success in cross country,’ said Lasswade AAC coach, Linda Smith.

‘He was involved in football in his early teens but has been with us for the past three years or so. He’s focused more on his running in the last year and has really developed well.

‘We have quite a strong group of young endurance athletes at the club right now and that’s refelcted in teams medals at the Short Course Champs. The athletes are pushing each other on in training and that always helps.’

The first race of the day was the U15 Girls, won by Lois Macrae (Inverness Harriers), with Cerys Wright (Lasswade AAC) in 2nd and Zoey Morgan (Dundee Hawkhill) in third.

The team result brought more good news for Lasswade AAC, who were victorious, with Giffnock North AC in second and Harmeny AC taking home bronze medals.

The U15 Boys race saw Calum Dick (Giffnock North) top the podium, with Ray Taylor (Falkirk Victoria) in silver and Alistair Street (Kilbarchan AAC) in third.

Team honours went to Giffnock AC, with Falkirk Victoria second and East Kilbride AC taking third place.