THE sun shone on the runners and spectators at the National Cross Country Relay Championships at Scone Palace in Perth on Saturday, October 23.
There was a fantastic atmosphere, with both the boys’ and the girls’ races having more than 60 teams each competing in the relay championships on the cross-country course.
Team East Lothian (TEL) had five strong teams in the event – with two girls’ teams and three boys’ teams.
Each team is made up of one under-13 runner, one under-15 runner (or younger) and one under-17 runner (or younger), with each athlete running a 2,500m lap of the cross-country course.
In true scottishathletics precision, the girls’ race started at noon prompt, with Inverness Harriers taking the lead with their young U13 runner.
Cerys Wright, from Girls’ TEL Team #1, stayed in pursuit and managed to stay firmly in second to the end of her lap, before passing on to Eily Sinclair.
Sinclair had a strong run, staying up with the front runners before passing to Maja Thomson, who ran a very fast lap to get the girls back into second position and win a national silver medal.
Thomson ran the second fastest time of the day, 9m25s.
Girls’ TEL Team #2 also had a strong performance, with runners Sula Russell (U13), Rachel Stevens (U15) and Jessica Bullen (U17) finishing in the top half of all the girls’ teams.
It was a fast race in the boys’ event, with boys’ TEL Team #1 U13 runner Jake Page battling for a top-10 finish in his leg.
He passed on to U15 runner Innes Wright, who moved the team up to seventh position, with U17 brother Angus Wright working hard to hold that position, with the team finishing in seventh place.
The boys’ TEL Team #2 was Thomas Gornall (U13), John Marshall (U15) and Aidan Page (U17).
Page moved through the field in the last 2,500m leg to pick off eight runners, in a time of 8m38s, and put the team in 21st place.
Boys’ TEL Team #3 was made up of Ben Krievs (U13), Charlie Copp (U15) and Isaac Stevenson (U15). They ran well to finish in 46th out of 66 teams.
Four of the five TEL teams finished in the top half of all teams, demonstrating the depth of the talent at the East Lothian club.
Congratulations to all runners for their performance, and to the girls’ TEL #1 relay team for winning that sought-after silver medal at national level.
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