#LindsaysXC is back with District Relays at Gala; Loch Ness Marathon

Thursday 29th September 2022

Action from the East District XC Relays last year (photo by Neil Renton)

Event section page for East District XC Relays 

The Lindsays Cross Country Season will be under starter’s orders this weekend – with the opening event taking place in the Borders.

It’s the East District XC Relays with Mossilee Farm in Galashiels the venue as hundreds of athletes pull on their XC spikes once again on Saturday.

North and West events don’t start until the week after, but just over 900 names are on start-lists for the East event with 194 teams entered.

That’s a reflection on the interest and we would like to thank our East clubs for their support.

All the key info around Saturday’s races are on the Event section page with the usual format applying again this time – races for Young Females and Young Males then being followed by those for teams that can feature athletes from the U20/Seniors/Masters age bands.

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Megan Keith has won the River Ness 10k in 2019 and 2021 (photo by Trevor Martin)

By Faser Clyne

Veteran Kenyan athlete Isaiah Kosgei believes that a burning desire to help others will propel him to another successful performance in the Baxters Loch Ness marathon on Sunday.

The 47-year-old distance runner, who comes from the Kenyan running town of Iten – home to many of the world’s top distance runners – has a fine record in the Highland race, having finished fifth in 2017 and third in 2018 before going on to claim victory on his most recent visit in 2019.

On every occasion he has used his prize money to support a variety of charitable projects in his local area, most notably providing funds to improve facilities at his old school and helping to support the education of under-privileged children.

‘I am in good shape and feel ready,’ said Kosgei.

‘I hope to win and run under 2hr 20min to enable me to accomplish my dream of giving back to society and transforming the lives of many children in my village.

‘I started my build-up by running 210k per week and recently 170k per week. I train with a group in Iten but do my easy runs alone.

‘I enjoy running Loch Ness because of the good reception I get every year. The organisation of the race is very good and there are beautiful views on the route. The course is tough but I have prepared for it.’

The Kenyan is to face some strong competition led by Edinburgh’s Dougie Selman who aims to match the achievement of his Corstorphine club-mate Stuart Livingstone who won in 2021.

Selman has a best time of 2:21:46 dating back to Berlin in 2016. Chris Richardson (Metro Aberdeen) is another contender for a place on the podium.

Malta-based Aberdonian Jemima Farley is among the favourites to win the women’s race.

The 36-year-old doctor has a personal best time of 2hr 46min 35 set at last year’s Richmond marathon.

Megan Keith (Inverness Harriers) will make a late decision over whether to compete in the Baxters River Ness 10k but the Great Britain international admits the lure of bidding for a third win in a row in her home town race might prove too strong to resist.

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Tags: Baxters Loch Ness Marathon, East District XC Relays, Lindsays Cross Country Season

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