At this time of the year a significant number of Disability Sport Fife (DSF) members turn their attention to cross country. Fife secondary schools with Departments for pupils with additional support needs prepare enthusiastically for the autumn, winter and spring programme of cross country events organised by DSF, Scottish Athletics and Scottish Disability Sport. Races are held in Fife, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Fife Athletic Club athletes Owen Miller and Sam Fernando first came to the attention of DSF as members of their school cross country teams and the strong Fife track and field teams of recent years have developed from cross country successes.
The East Series 1 cross country was held early in November at Peffermill. 36 junior athletes from Bell Baxter HS, Woodmill HS, Balwearie HS, and Lochgelly HS competed in separate boys and girls races over 1K, 2K and 3K. Fife athletes recorded eleven year group first places.
Arran Howe (S4) from Bell Baxter HS had the fastest 1K time of the day of 4.40, following in the footsteps of ex Bell Baxter HS pupil Sam Fernando who currently leads the UK junior rankings. Over the same distance Fife produced the following year group winners: Nathan Smith (S1) Woodmill HS, Edwin Barron (S2) Woodmill HS, Connor Brown (S3) Woodmill HS and Reece Dickson (S5) Balwearie HS.
Sophie Coughlin (S1) from Bell Baxter HS returned the second fastest IK time for girls in Series 1 of 6.37 and Megan Wilson (S3) Woodmill HS and Chloe Ramsay (S2) Lochgelly HS were individual IK year group winners. Michelle Harley (S4) Lochgelly HS was the fastest girl over 2K in East Series 1 and Matthew Blair (S5) Woodmill HS was the second fastest boy and year group winner.
The 3K races are reserved for the leading junior athletes and Casey Donaldson (S4) Woodmill HS recorded the fastest Series 1 time of 16.53. Brandon Eason (S6) Balwearie HS was second fastest in 18.26 to round off another very successful East Series Cross Country event for Fife schools.
Richard Brickley MBE
President, Disability Sport Fife