AVIVA INTERNATIONAL—SCOTTISH 4K XC CH.—PARKRUN—BORDER XC SERIES [Paper Report]
Updated: 2010-02-02
SARAH’S PB WAS A NEW SCOTTISH RECORD
The past weekend has been a hectic, but memorable one for Lothian Running Club’s Sarah Inglis.
It saw her gain her first senior representative vest, make a TV appearance, set a new PB which was later found to be a new Scottish record and to put the icing on the cake she claimed the Scottish Under-20 4k Cross Country title.
The remarkable chain of events began last Friday.
With less than 24 hours notice she was asked to step in as a replacement runner for the Commonwealth Select team at the prestigeous BBC televised Aviva International at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall. The originally selected athlete Gemma Turtle had to pull out through injury.
Never one to shun a challenge the 18 year old grasped the opportunity and found herself lining up alongside a quartet of quality and much more experienced rivals including UK steeplechase record holder Helen Clitheroe and Germany’s former European Cross Country silver medalist, Sabrina Mockenhaupt, American Lindsay Allen and Swede Ulrika Johansson completed the five runner field.
Not surprising, Sarah – one of only three Scot’s competing at the meeting – found it hard going trying to match strides with her more illustrious counterparts, however cheered on by the home support Sarah duelled for fourth place for much of the race with the American Allen before eventually finishing fifth and setting a new indoor PB of 9 minutes 48.49 seconds. It was later found that this time was also a new Scottish Indoor Under-20 record, beating the previous record which was set in 2005 by .89 of a second.
Full result 1. Helen Clitheroe[GB] 9:05.87, 2. Sabina Mockenhaut[GER] 9:06.39, 3. Ulrika Johansson[SWE] 9:08.68, 4. Lindsay Allen[USA]9:29.03, 5. Sarah Inglis[COM] 9:48.49.
4K XC TITLE FOR EXHAUSTED SARAH
Less than 24 hours later Sarah was back in Glasgow lining up in the Bellahouston Park for the Scottish Senior and Under-20 4k Cross-Country Championship.
In the early stages of the race it was eventual senior race winner Elspeth Curran, Kilbarchan and Sarah who opened up a 20 metre lead, however midway through the second lap the exertions of the previous day began to tell on the Lothian runner and she dropped back to finsh in fifth place overall in 13 minutes 46 seconds, it was however good enough to clinch her the Under-20 Scottish title.
After the race an exhausted Sarah commented,”i tried to win outright but i was dead on my feet after a lap and a half”, she went on to sum up her hectic couple of day’s,”it’s been a brilliant weekend, Saturday gave me a glimpse of the atmosphere and crowd Glasgow can expect in 2014.”
Sarah will be back in cross country action on Saturday representing Edinburgh University at the British Student Championship at Stirling.
PB’S GALORE AT PARKRUN
Four out of the six Lothian RC members at Saturday’s[30th Jan] Edinburgh 5k parkrun set new PB’s for the course.
Brian Turner[35-39] who finished 5th last week improved to 2nd this time in a time of 16.27 which wasn’t a PB.
The next four club runners home however all set new figures, veteran Scott Balfour[60-64] finished in 12th in 18.41, closely followed in 16th and 17th by Harry Mullholland[45-49]18.55
and John Malcolm[25-29] 19.22.
Once again Lana Turnbull was the only female runner from the club and also set a course PB of 20.17,Lana finished 36th overall, 6th female and 1st junior [15-19].
Completing the compliment of club runners was David Mabon[55-59] in a good 40th place in 20.27.
JUNIOR TITLE FOR ALLY AT BORDER XC AT BERWICK
Alistair Robertson and Kate Kitchen were the club’s representative’s at the 4th round of the Borders XC Series at Berwick Point.
Ally who finished 21st overall took the Junior Mens title completing the testing beach and sand dunes course in 30 minutes 16 seconds.
Kate got round in 37 minutes 13 seconds which placed her 85th overall and 5th Senior Female.
136 runners completed.
The fifth round takes place at Galashiels this Sunday[7th Feb].
Shane Fenton