Max lands first Scottish gold and Fionnuala pleased to race – and win – again

Saturday 27th April 2024

Photo by Simon Wootton

Night of 10k 2024 Results

Max Abernethy made the journey from Aberdeen to Glasgow on Friday afternoon with a very clear Night of the 10ks time target in mind.

By the time he made the return trip his career had taken a forward leap with a superb sub 30 minute clocking for 10,000m on the track and a Scottish National Championship title against his name.

Max seized gold at Crownpoint in fine style in 29:42.79 and while he just missed out on a cash bonus from meet organisers Glasgow Athletics Association by a couple of seconds his delight was abundantly clear post-race.

Fionnuala Ross was satisfied, too, with yet another Scottish gold medal around her neck after a tough period which included a DNF at the Seville Marathon and recent illness.

‘I was simply aiming to try and break 30 minutes tonight in my first 10,000m race on the track.’ said Max.

‘So to get under that by around 18 seconds to win a Senior Scottish gold medal feels absolutely brilliant.’

Central AC’s Luca Fanottoli took silver with 30: 08.81 as Daniel Bradford of Shettleston won bronze (and M35 gold) in 30:41.66.

‘The pace-makers did really well early in the race and then Lewis (Hannigan – pacing at the front) asked me mid-race if I wanted to push it on a bit. We did that and a gap opened up and I began to think the 29:40 prize pot from the GAA was a possibility.

‘I’ve missed that by a couple of seconds but that would have been only a nice wee bonus. I am delighted.

‘The group at Aberdeen is strong at the moment and guys like Sean Chalmers love a hard session. You have to work hard to train with guys like Sean, Michael Ferguson and Myles Edwards.

Fionnuala came home in 34:23.51 as she went close to the GAA prize-pot (at 34:10).

‘It was just a case of getting out there and running as well as I could,’ said Shettleston’s resident Irish athlete.

‘I was in Seville for the marathon there and everything went well until about 15 or 16 miles. I had to pull out, though. Then, a few weeks ago back here I was ill and that floored me for a bit.

‘That was a solid run and I will take the title and a 34 minute run and move on from here. I will do some more 10ks in the summer and go again for the cross country season.’

Springburn athlete Michelle Sandison took silver and Merce Sanchez Oller of Edinburgh AC was our bronze medallist on the Senior Women’s podium.