Runners from around 100 clubs descend on Falkirk to chase national medals on the country
Scotland international Lynn McKenna claimed the biggest win of her athletics career in the Lindsays National XC Champs – then thanked the packed crowds around the course at Falkirk.
Support from further afield helped inspire Logan Rees to his second senior Scottish title in this event – his girlfriend was over from California – as he made amends for losing his shoe in the mud at Liverpool in November.
McKenna won gold from Nancy Scott of Edinburgh AC and her Shettleston clubmate, Brogan Wallace, who has returned to the sport after a five-year absence.
With 2207 names on start lists and 100 clubs represented, the Lindsays National XC drew a crowd of 3000 to 4000 to Callendar Park in Falkirk.
Individual medals for Shetland AAC in under-20 and Stornoway RAC at under-17 races added to the event’s depth and atmosphere as runners took Trains, Planes and Automobiles (and Ferries) to be there.
Over 900 seniors finished the 10km of cross country action with the fields including Olympian Freya Ross from local club Falkirk Victoria and athletes from under-13 to M80.
“I’ve not run here for a few years as I’ve been injured at this point of the season – so Falkirk was a big target for me this year,” said McKenna.
“I felt as if Nancy and others were close to me in the first couple of laps but once you feel you are ahead you just have to push on and trust yourself.
“It means an awful lot to me to win this when I see the names on the trophy like Freya Ross and Mhairi Maclennan.
“The atmosphere here is brilliant and at every point in the course I felt there was someone shouting me on. It really helps and then you come back into the section with all the club tents and the road is deafening.”
In that senior women’s race, Shettleston won team golds with Edinburgh second and Carnethy Hill Runner third.
Logan Rees (Bobby Gavin)
Rees was a man with a plan and executed it superbly as home favourite Scott Stirling of Falkirk Victoria Harriers took silver and 37-year-old Kevin Campbell of Cambuslang Harriers landed a surprise bronze.
Central AC won the team golds once again with Carnethy the silvers and Shettleston were third.
“My girlfriend was over from America and a lot of family were here too so I could not let them down,” grinned Logan.
“I think Liverpool and Falkirk are the two big ones for Scottish athletes in terms of cross country. Liverpool didn’t go way I hoped when I lost a shoe so I have to be really satisfied with gold here. I tied my spikes extra hard today!
“I will look to 10km on the road now and try and win a GB and NI selection.”
Isla Paterson of Gala Harriers, whose uncle Chris Paterson is Scotland’s top points scorer in international rugby, added to that family story with under-20 women’s gold. Logan Beagley of Central AC won the under-20 men’s title after improving from fourth the previous year.
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