Photo by Bobby Gavin
The tarmac closed circuit at East Fortune which hosted our Young Athletes Road Races is no doubt well used to hosting high speed racing.
And the East Lothian venue is also adjacent to the National Museum of Flight, with local road users politely warned of the chance of low flying aircraft.
Both of the above felt fitting as high-flying young Scottish athletes – in the U17 and U15 age brackets – raced hard both for Scottish championship medals and representative trips to London.
Scotland selection for the London Mini Marathon remains a big deal for these teenagers, it seems, and East Fortune provided the perfect backdrop for those battles (with the top four assured as well as two further discretionary picks).
So, too, did sunshine and superb conditions for road racing with the 432 names on start-lists across three age groups reflecting the popularity of this event.
James Alexander of Garscube Harriers won the Men’s U17 gold as he added this title to a silver at the Lindsays National XC at Falkirk.
Kilbarchan AAC’s Alistair Street took silver here and Andrew Baird of Inverness Harriers was third.
‘The London Mini Marathon has been one of my favourite events in athletics so I am delighted to be going there again,’ said James.
‘I love the course here at East Fortune and conditions were perfect on the day. I liked the way the course was reversed from two years ago.’
Jessica Taylor finished fourth at Falkirk and at the Inter-Counties XC only last week but the Edinburgh AC athlete was an impressive U17 champion here.
Eilidh Dallas of Strathearn Harriers took silver with Abbie Stewart of Stornoway RAC in third.
‘I’ve not been in the London Mini Marathon team before so that was a big incentive here today – and I am thrilled to take gold,’ said Jessica.
Giffnock North athlete Louie Muir won the U15 Boys gold and was followed home by Connor Campbell of Garscube Harriers and Luke Sedman of Falkirk Vics.
Freya Brown of Lasswaqde AC won the U15 Girls title to add to her Lindsays National XC success. Freya was followed home by April Macaulay of Giffnock North and Rachel Caves of Harmeny AC.
Similarly, in the U13 Boys race, National XC winner Alexander Wotherspoon added gold on the roads at East Fortune. Silver went to Toby Comer of Edinburgh AC and third to Findlay Bell of Perth Strathtay.
The U13 Girls race opened the programme and featured gold for Millie Glass Park of Banchory Stonehaven (again a repeat of Falkirk). Silver went to Gabbi Whyte of Perth Strathtday and third to Emi Daunt of Edinburgh.
U15 podium photos (by Bobby Gavin)
*In the team races it was good to see no fewer than five clubs share the six gold medal positions.
Giffnock won a double this year with our U17 champions from Garscube (Men) and Gala (Women).
Well done to all the athletes and coaches involved.
Team titles:
U17 Men: Garscube Harriers
U17 Women: Gala Harriers
U15 Boys: Falkirk Victoria Harriers
U15 Girls: Giffnock North AC
U13 Boys: Perth Strathtay Harriers
U13 Girls: Giffnock North AC
*Big thank you to our hosts at East Fortune, Team East Lothian, all volunteers and Officials and our Road Running and Cross Country Commission for delivering the Young Athletes Road Races once again.
U13 podium photos (by Bobby Gavin)
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