PAPER REPORT [WEEK ENDING 27TH MARCH]

Updated: 2010-03-27
Sarah Inglis ready for eastern European adventure
Mar 25 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

HOT ON the heels of Sarah Inglis’ stunning run in the recent trials in Birmingham where she finished fourth, the Lothian Running Club ace has been selected to represent the Great Britain and Ireland team in this Sunday’s 38th I.A.A.F World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Sarah, who is one of only five Scots in the 21-runner squad will contest the Junior Women’s race which will be run over a 6000 metres course.

Joining her in the six-strong team is fellow Scot Beth Potter along with English quartet Kate Avery, Emelia Gorecka, Annabel Gummow and Hannah Walker.

Sarah has excelled in cross country events since she returned to action in January.

A win in the East District league was followed by victory at the Celtic Nations Cross Country in Ireland where she also led the Scottish Junior women’s team to gold medal success.

A further gold was secured in the Scottish 4k championships before taking bronze in the Scottish National championships in Falkirk last month.

Fourth place in the recent trials ultimately led to her selection in Sunday’s big event where she will be rubbing shoulders and competing against the best in the business.

A GB vest is the pinnacle of an athlete’s attainment, and for Sarah, her selection is just reward for all the hardwork, committment and dedication she puts into her athletics under the guidance of coach Steve Cottom.

It is also a great honour for the Lothian Running Club.

Five runners represented the club at the Scottish Athletics Junior Road Race Championships at Rouken Glen Park Giffnock on Saturday with three in the Girls’ Under-13 race and one apiece in the women’s and Men’s Under-17 events.

The Girls’ Under-13 race was run over 2500 metres and first club runner to cross the finish line was Lauren Arbuckle in 43rd place in 10 minutes 50 seconds.

Following her home was, in 53rd, Bethany Nelson at 11:09 and 74th Alice Horsburgh at 12:05.

This placed them 13th in the team event. Eighty-three runners completed the course.

Thirty-one runners lined up for the women’s Under-17 race run over 5000 metres, with Lana Turnbull recording a time of 20:16 for 14th place.

Max McNeil was the club’s sole runner in the Men’s Under-17 event and he covered the 5000 metres course in 17:31 for 22nd place.

There was also an excellent turnout of a dozen Lothian Running Club members among a total field of just under 1000 who contested Sunday’s Alloa Half Marathon.

Conditions were ideal for the 28th running of the race.

Ross Milne was the club’s highest-placed finisher in sixth place in a time of 1 hour 10 minutes 58 seconds.

Not far behind, in 12th and 21st places respectively, were Brian Turner and Ben Hartman.

The club had a category winner in M60 vet Scott Balfour who finished 82nd overall.

Lynne Murray was the first club female back in a good field which placed her 135th overall, 12th female and fourth F45.

John Malcolm, who completed the course in 1:31:32 for 203rd place was setting a new PB for the distance.

Shane Fenton