Athletics: Runners limber up for National Championships

Feb 19 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

THE Scottish National Championships takes place this weekend at Callander Park, Falkirk, where the cream of the cross-country crop are expected.

The venue has proved popular in recent years and a massive 1833 runners from clubs the length and breadth of the country have declared entries to take part on Saturday.

Lothian Running Club will be well represented at the championships with runners in most of the races. In total, nine races will be contested from under-13s through to the seniors.

The event is also the initial selection race for the 2009 Home Countries International Challenge to be held in Wales on March 28.

Last weekend, Lothian Running Club’s Lana Turnbull was the sole county representative at the Scottish Age-Group Championships at Glasgow's Kelvin Hall.

Lana contested the Girls' under-17 800 metres – running a fine run in her heat to finish runner-up in 2m 30.96s.

This ensured her qualification for the final where she couldn't quite reproduce a similar performance and finished fifth in 2m 35.61s.

Elsewhere, a handful of Lothian RC athletes were among a record entry of 499 who braved the snow-laden terrain to contest the Carnethy 5 Hill Race at Silverburn on Saturday, February 14.

Andy Kitchen was the first Lothian runner back producing a good performance in the testing conditions to finish 21st overall and fourth M40.

Terence Brannigan crossed the muddy finishing line in 110th position with club colleague's Davie Bell 215th, John Malcolm 261st and Jim Alexander 340th.