Go Scotland! Strong teams will wear the vest in Stirling

Thursday 9th January 2020

Olympian Andy Butchart and fellow GB international Mhairi Maclennan are ready to lead Scotland at Run Stirling.

Some 32 athletes in total will pull on the navy blue Joma Sport Scotland vests to compete in two competitions – the Home Countries XC and the Celtic XC International.

Both these competitions take place within the British Cross Challenge with medals and placings established thereafter. Each athlete competes only in their age group and in their competition (that is: Scotland international athletes are not competing in the Inter-Districts, for example).

It’s a great moment for all these athletes and their families and coaches – we wish them well.

Since the original selection was announced in mid-December, there have been three withdrawals through injury and illness.

Coming into the Men’s U23 team is James Donald of Dundee Hawkhill Harriers. Coming into the Men’s U20 team are Ben Shaw of Giffnock North AC and Ryan Donald of Dundee Hawkhill. Congratulations to these athletes and particularly the Donald family!

?? 'I definitely describe myself as a geek that runs'????- @belliesimpson

LIVE stream of British Athletics Cross Challenge series coming up ?

? Saturday, 12:45pm
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— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) January 9, 2020

Here are the Scotland selections:

Senior Men: Andy Butchart, Jamie Crowe (both Central AC), Jonny Glen (Inverclyde AC), Lachlan Oates (Shettleston)

Senior Women: Mhairi Maclennan (Inverness Harriers), Annabel Simpson (Fife AC), Fiona Brian (Metro Aberdeen), Nynke Mulholland (Inverclyde AC).

U23 Men: Ben Greenwood (Perth Strathtay), Jack Leitch (Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds), Hamish Hickey (Central AC), James Donald (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers)

U23 Women: Holly Little (VP-Glasgow), Kerry Macangus (Kilbarchan AAC), Zoe Pflug (Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds), Constance Nankivell (Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds)

U20 Men: Kristof Hornyik (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers), Christian Graham (Lasswade AAC), Ben Shaw (Giffnock North AC), Ryan Donald (Dundee Hawkhill).

U20 Women: Cera Gemmell (Team East Lothian), Megan Keith (Inverness Harriers), Eloise Walker (Edinburgh AC), Hannah Anderson (East Kilbride AC)

U17 Men: Lucas Cairns (Inverness Harriers), Andrew McGill (Livingston AC), Sam Griffin (Aberdeen AAC), Harris Paterson (Giffnock North AC)

U17 Women: Anna Hedley (Fife AC), Julia Cash (Giffnock North AC), Meredith Reid (Glasgow School of Sport), Anya MacLean (Garscube Harriers)

GB international Eloise Walker had a strong run in the Inter-Districts at Stirling last year and can’t wait to represent Scotland at U20 level.

The Edinburgh AC athlete competed for GB on the track last summer, reaching the final of the 3000m, and was in fine form at the Scottish 3000m Champs at the Emirates Arena last Friday night.

‘It was good to run an indoor PB in Glasgow and now I can’t wait for Run Stirling,’ said Eloise.

‘I was really just making a full comeback from injury this time last year and I ended up racing in the Senior Inter-District race. I tried to go with Mhairi (Maclennan) early on which maybe wasn’t the best idea!

‘There is a very strong field for this weekend’s race because I’ve been looking at the U20 entrants and the likes of the England team. It will be great to race them and great to wear the Scotland vest – that is always an awesome feeling in itself.’

Joining Eloise in that Women’s U20 team are what looks like a very competitive Scotland team are Megan Keith (Inverness Harriers), Cera Gemmell (Team East Lothian) and Hannah Anderson (East Kilbride AC).

We wish them and all the Scotland teams the very best of luck.

"It's full on, but I love it" says @mhairimaac on balancing her job as a lecturer at @EdinburghUni and being at top level athlete ?????

Read more: https://t.co/1uv4pc1LBz

Watch MacLennan LIVE at #RunStirling this Saturday: https://t.co/K0QeBdunOM

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— Vinco (@VincoSport) January 7, 2020