Senior race roundup 14th June 2022

As we approach the middle of June, the Harriers race train continues to build momentum and really start to pick up pace for the summer season proper.  Our athletes have been out and about doing the club proud yet again – it’s hard to keep up, so apologies for any omissions!

At the start of the month our U20/senior track and field athletes came out in good numbers to contest the second CSSAL League match of the season.  We were leading after the 1^st match, and it looks very much like we have maintained that lead going into the final match at Scotstoun on the 3^rd of July – we will be looking for names very shortly for this event.  There were too many strong performances to name everyone individually, but it was a fantastic team effort with many athletes competing in events well outwith their comfort zone to secure points for the club.  Full results are not yet available, but provisional results can be seen here: CSSAL Leagusummer points league (2)

On Saturday the 11^th of June, Susan Beattie faced the wild conditions at the Skye Half Marathon to finish in 147^th overall (sorry Susan, the results don’t give a breakdown on gender and age group!) in a great time of 1:57:15.  Having seen the pictures it definitely looked like a tough shift out there so well done!

For many of our road runners, the focus has been Roon the Toon held on Sunday the 12^th of June.  Unfortunately the weather was not as kind as we may have liked, but this did not stop 77 Harriers (according to the results) from completing the 10k route around our home turf.  First Harrier home on the day was Martin Brown who built on his recent comeback at Land O’Burns to finish in 32:01 in 23^rd place overall in a stacked championship field.  Second back was Craig Ferguson who ran his 4^th consecutive 10k PB in 33:23 (37^th overall), he was followed in by U20 athlete Jonathon Downey in 33:27 and 38^th overall (2^nd U20).  First home for the ladies was Lorna Baird in a new PB of 37:56 and 12^th lady overall, followed by Lynsey O’Connor in a huge PB performance of 39:10, 3^rd V40 and 17^th lady overall.  Rounding up the top 3 ladies for the club was Amanda Bryden who also ran a PB in 45:23 for 47^th lady overall.  Also taking top 3 age group prizes were Izzy Caufield (2^nd U17W), Matthew Monachello (3^rd U17M), Kate Todd (3^rd V70W) and Laura Mitchell (3^rd U17W).  Sadly we cannot mention everyone, but it is clear from above the strength and depth we currently have as a club from U17 right up to V70 level. Full results are available here – massive thanks to the organising team,athletes, pacers, volunteers and supporters who made it such a great event which has rightly been receiving a lot of good press from the Scottish Athletics community as a whole.

Whilst all of this was going on, we also had athletes competing at other events!  John Speirs and Sharon McNicol travelled over to Edinburgh to take part in the Blast Running 5k.  Driving across to the other side of the country did not save them from the conditions, but their efforts were rewarded with an outright win and PB for John in 17:09, and Sharon was 11^th overall and first lady home in 20:58 – fantastic running guys!

Travelling a little further was ladies captain Jennifer Beattie who was in Derby to take part in the British Masters Track and Field championships.  The long journey was rewarded with a fantastic bronze medal in the V40 800m, just outside of a PB in blustery conditions and against top level competitors. Well done Jennifer!

With an extra 5 bonus points available on the summer championship league for athletes taking part in Roon the Toon, the league table is now starting to really heat up.  Still at the top of the table for the men is Mark Lyden with 60 points, but Paul Black is snapping at Mark’s heels with 51 and Neil Todd is gaining with 45.  In the ladies league there is still no change at the top with Kirsty Mackay on 72 points.  Lorna Baird is currently 2^nd with 50 points, and Sasha I’Anson and Louise Baillie are just behind with 46 points.  The next races in the points league will be Kilmaurs 5k and Cumbrae 10 miler, and Dundonald have just announced that they WILL go ahead on the 3^rd of August.  Entries are also still open for the Marymass 10k in August. summer points league (2)