Scottish runners dominate on home soil at the latest British Athletics Cross Challenge
On November 11, athletes from across the UK gathered in Glasgow for the third event of the UK Athletics Cross Challenge at Alexandra Park.
Competing in cold, snowy conditions, runners not only battled each other, but also the tough, hilly terrain of the golf course venue as the event doubled up as the Scottish Inter-District Championships.
Jamie Crowe from Central AC entered the senior men’s race as the defending champion after winning last year’s Challenge fixture in Renfrew and hoped to claim a victory after finishing 11th at the Liverpool Cross in November.
The 8km course, which featured three tough laps, saw the lead pack stay together until the final stages, where Crowe made his move to pull away and secure the title.
Aidan Thompson, Crowe’s training partner, finished in second place, while Cameron Allan of Houghton Harriers took third.
Aidan Thompson, Jamie Crowe & Cameron Allan (Bobby Gavin)
Reflecting on his win, Crowe said: “It was tough conditions out there with how cold it is, the ground being really hard, and there was tough competition as well. It came down to the last kilometre so I’m happy to get the win.
“The first two laps I was getting used to what it looked like and I figured out which bits I felt best at which was the climb of the hill and the sharp corners. With one lap to go I pushed on from there and I was lucky enough to get a gap so I didn’t have to sprint finish because my legs were going.”
Lynn McKenna of Shettleston took control of the senior women’s race, pulling ahead of her rivals, including Morag Miller from Central AC and Mountain World Cup champion Scout Adkin from Moorfoot, who finished second and third respectively.
As she entered the final lap of the course, McKenna pushed ahead decisively, claiming the win. Her performance came just a week after setting a personal best of 9:25.07 at the Scottish Indoor 3000m championships.
McKenna told Scottish Athletics, “I have run this course before and I knew the hills suit my strengths, so I knew if I was in the lead pack, I could see where I was after a lap or two. I felt quite strong, so I pushed it on, and no one stayed with me this time, so it paid off.
“I never take for granted who is in the race with me, and I give everyone the respect they deserve. These girls have loads of experience, so to get the win today is very special.”
Lynn McKenna (Bobby Gavin)
While the snow stayed away during the senior races, it made its appearance during the junior men’s race, which included both the under-20s and under-17s running 6km.
In the junior men’s race, Moorfoot’s Thomas Hilton marked the start of 2025 with a strong victory, taking the top spot in the under-20 category as he pulled away from the pack in the last lap.
He crossed the finish line nine seconds ahead of Erik Nederheim, while Joe Dixon of Morpeth finished third.
In the under-17 category, Andrew Baird of Ross County delivered an outstanding performance, improving on his fifth place in Liverpool to take gold ahead of Daibhidh Kinnaird from Cambuslang and Alasdair MacLean of Giffnock North.
The junior women’s race was another exciting contest, with Zoe Gilbody from Telford AC claiming the win by 22 seconds.
The victory further cemented Gilbody’s standout cross country so far, which included a team gold for Great Britain at the European Cross Country Championships in Antalya. She also enjoyed a third place finish at the Cardiff Cross Challenge and fourth in Liverpool.
She told AW: “I felt strong today, I was surprised. I was surprised at the amount of hills in it and three laps of that is tough. My aim was just trying to get a gap on the downhill and then see what I have left.”
Finishing behind Gilbody in the under-20 category was Swansea’s Hannah Kinane, who finished fourth overall, while Anastasia Nilsson claimed the bronze.
In the under-17 race, Isla McGowan of Banbury continued her excellent form, taking the gold medal and finishing an impressive second overall. Zara Redmond of Kilbarchan secured silver on home turf, while Olivia Forrest of Brentwood Beagles took bronze.
The under-15 boys race saw an entertaining finish as Billy Sutherland of Ross County celebrated his first Cross Challenge victory by leaping over the finish line. Sutherland triumphed ahead of Falkirk Victoria Harriers’ Luke Sedman and Rory MacMillan, respectively.
In the under-15 girls race, Madison Welby of City of Lisburn and Windsor. Slough, Eton & Hounslow’s Kara Gorman went head-to-head in a thrilling battle for the top spot. Welby ultimately came out on top while Gorman took silver, as Freya Brown of Lasswade finished third.
Madison Kindler in the under-13 girls race continued her dominant form, securing her third straight victory in the Cross Challenge series. Emma Nicholson of Giffnock North took second place and Ellie Blackhurst from Preston finished third.
The under-13 boys saw Tom Ibbs of Musselburgh take the win ahead of Alexander Wotherspoon of Law & District, while Preston’s Albert Yates claimed third.
The next stop in the British Athletics Cross Challenge series will be in Leeds, at Temple Newsam, on February 8.
» Subscribe to AW magazine here, check out our new podcast here or sign up to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day here
About The Author
