Fife Junior Cross Country Athletes Excel

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The second round of the East Series of Cross Country races was held at Peffermill in Edinburgh and for the second time this year a significant number of junior Fife athletes with additional support needs finished in first position in their respective year groups. The East Series of races are organised by scottishathletics and Scottish Disability Sport and Round 3 will come to Fife on Thursday 2nd February 2017 when the event will be organised by Disability Sport Fife and Fife Athletic Club.

The only Fife pupils competing in the Primary races were from Rimbleton Primary in Glenrothes. Fife Secondary Schools were represented by Bell Baxter HS, Balwearie HS, Lochgelly HS and Woodmill HS.

The following Rimbleton Primary pupils finished first in their Primary year groups. Jayden McLellan (P3), Hayden Taylor (P4), Luke McGurk (P5) and Tia Cheney (P6). All pupils ran over the 1K course with Luke recording the fastest time of the Fife athletes of 8.08.

Four Fife Secondary girls topped their year groups over 1K and they were Sophie Coughlin Bell Baxter HS (S1), Amy Dignan Lochgelly HS (S2), Billie Lowe Balwearie HS (S3) and Taylor McDowall Balwearie HS (S6). Sophie’s time of 6.21 was the fastest recorded 1K time by a girl on the day and Billie had the third fastest overall time in the same event.

In the equivalent 1K boys races Greg Nicol Balwearie HS (S1), Edwin Barron Woodmill HS (S2), Arran Howe Bell Baxter HS (S4) and Cameron Healy Balwearie HS (S6) led the way in their year group. Arran had the second fastest overall time of 4.51, finishing only three seconds behind the race winner.

Louise and Michelle Harley from Lochgelly HS finished first and second in the girls 2K race with Louise crossing the line first in 15.36 only one second ahead off her sister. In the boys 2K race Mathew Blair from Woodmill HS finished second overall in 10.45 and was first athlete home in the S5 race.

45 athletes in total from Fife participated in Round 2 of the East Series. Well done to all concerned. Apart from Round 3 at the Beveridge Park in February, there will be Round 4 at Peffermill, followed by the Scottish Championships in Glasgow and the Fife Championships at the Beveridge Park. Cross country running in Fife is growing in popularity each year.

Richard Brickley MBE
President,  Disability Sport Fife