Athletics: Liverpool event gives triplets testing runout

Dec 4 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

LOTHIAN Running Club triplets Robert, Sarah and Mhairi Inglis were among a strong Scottish contingent racing in Liverpool last Saturday.

The 17-year-olds were in Merseyside for the second leg of the McCain UK Cross Country Challenge and they lined up against some of Britain’s best at the prestigious race.

The meet also incorporated the trials for the European Cross Country Championship in Brussels, which are to be held later this month, and was contested in freezing fog.

Following on from leading her Edinburgh team to victory in the Scottish University Championships the previous week, Sarah Inglis turned in another sterling performance in the Under-20 Junior Women’s race.

Eleven home Scots were among the total of 130 athletes who completed the 4.4km course, with Sarah finishing in a very creditable ninth place in 15min 19secs – an improvement of six places on her run at the first leg at Gateshead last month.

Mhairi Inglis also contested the race but unfortunately her time and finishing place weren’t recorded.

The race was won by Emma Pallant, of Aldershot, Farnham & District, who was also triumphant at Gateshead.

Despite finishing further down the field than he did at Gateshead, Robert Inglis felt he turned in a better performance on this occasion.

Competing in the Junior Men’s race, Robert was up against strong opposition.

He acquitted himself well however, completing the 6.7km course in 22m 32secs to cross the line in 64th place, with 101 athletes completing the course.

First place went to David Forrester from the local Sutton St Helens club, who was also the victor at Gateshead, in a time of 20min 29secs.

The cross country action continues on Saturday with the Scottish Athletics East District Championships at Bell Baxter Academy, Cupar, Fife.

A good turnout is expected from the Lothian Running Club for all the races, which vary from under-13s through to seniors.

This is the principal event for East District team selection for the Inter-District Cross Country Championship at Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, on January 10, with the first eight home in each race guaranteed automatic selection.

The first race at Cupar gets under way at 12.30pm.