PUPILS from two county secondary schools took part in the Scottish Schools Athletic Association Cross Country Championships in Livingston on Saturday.

North Berwick High School (NBHS) and Dunbar Grammar School (DGS) had the best results from the East Lothian Championships, and both schools were rewarded with some fine runs from their pupils, who were mostly members of Team East Lothian (TEL).

Cera Gemmell (NBHS), who gained a bronze medal at the national championships in Falkirk, ran more cautiously at the start of the U17 race, but by the halfway mark had a commanding lead and stretched her advantage in the second part of the race as she claimed the title.

As well as her championship medal, Gemmell was selected to represent Scotland in the British Schools Championships at Port Talbot at the end of the month.

Cera said she was “delighted to be chosen” to represent Scottish Schools, and will be hoping to better her fourth-place finish in the recent Celtic Nations event in Cardiff.

Meanwhile, Emma Johnson finished third in the U14 girls’ event, while NBHS pupil Bridget Harley produced a storming finish to take fifth.

East Lothian athletes were also busy in Glasgow, with both the Scottish Athletics Indoor Relay Championships and the Scottish Athletics Indoor Combined Events Championship taking place at the Emirates Arena.

In the Indoor Combined Events Championships, TEL had three entrants, with Adam Hoole competing in the U15 boys’ and Paul Serpenskas and Max Evans in the U13 boys’ section.

Evans had a great day and took the bronze medal, with Serpenskas finishing in 11th place overall.

Meanwhile, Hoole put in a strong showing as he came fifth in his category.

At the Indoor Relay Championship, TEL were represented by an U15 girl’s squad, and two U17 men’s squads, while there was also a Musselburgh and District AC team in the U13 boys’ event.

TEL U17 men’s ‘A’ team of Lewis Goodall, Charlie Hamilton, Chris Stewart and Alistair Loudon ran their heat well but missed a finals place by 0.14 seconds.

There was a similar frustration for the U15 girls’ squad, of Joanne Welch, Laura Buchan, Grace Brennan and Eloise Grey, who missed the final by 0.46 seconds.