National Cross Country Champs, 2014

NINE HARRIERS DO THE NATIONALS

On Saturday, the highlight of most Senior athletes’ Winter season saw the traditional venue of Callandar Park in Falkirk host the Scottish National Cross Country Championships.

A gruelling course awaited the thousands of competitors with numerous distances being covered throughout the many age groups starting from Under 12’s and culminating with the Senior Men taking on 12,000 metres of muck, hills, grass and trails on the scenic course.

First Kilmarnock Harriers in action were the Senior Ladies who took on 8,000 meters covering 2 laps and featuring a few Olympians and athletes with hopes of competing in the Summers Commonwealth Games to be held on these shores.

Kara Tait had high hopes in the race and starting steadily as usual she picked her way through the field to finish in her highest ever position in the event, finishing just outside the Top 20 to boost her chances of selection for upcoming prestigious events.

Former runner up Lindsay McMahon showed she is gradually returning to form by finishing high up in her age category, while race debutant Lorna Sloan and seasoned campaigner Paula Wilson had excellent runs to finish well up the field.

Killie times and positions were – 22^nd Kara Tait 31.39, 84^th Lindsay McMahon 35.25, 125^th Lorna Sloan 37.11, 171^st Paula Wilson 39.39.

After the Under 20 Men had finished, the curtain was brought down on an excellent day when almost 600 of the Nation’s best Senior Men lined up.

With the course cutting up by now, the Kilmarnock Harrier duo of Neil Walker and Scott Martin were separated by seconds throughout the race. Neil deservedly took the honours at the tape, while Scott was happy enough with his run in prep for the upcoming London Marathon and finished 2^nd in his age category when all was tallied up at the end.

Robert Lindsay, again making a debut, was next home with Connell Drummond getting back to fitness with a good hard run under his belt. Special mentions too go to likeable Harrier Willie Duffy who continues to compete at these events, with the smart money being on a successful road season ahead because of this.