Athletics: Lothian runners do club proud

Jul 16 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

ATHLETES from the Lothian Running Club had another successful weekend competing on the track, road and highland games.

On Friday evening Sarah Inglis competed at the most prestigious meeting of her career to date, the Aviva World Trials and UK Championships at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham where Britain’s top athletes came together to race.

Running in the first heat of the Women's 1500 metres, Sarah (17), who was gaining valuable experience, was the youngest of the 13 runners in a top-class line-up.

With darkness falling and a chill in the air Sarah turned in a creditable performance to finish in 11th place in four minutes 26.97 seconds. Although not the PB she was hoping for it was still a season’s best for the talented Lothian athlete.

The race was won by top British prospect Stephanie Twell from Aldershot, Farnham and District.

Robert Inglis, Darren Thomson and Lauren Arbuckle all enjoyed a profitable day at the Alva Games at a sun-kissed Johnstone Park on Saturday, July 11.

Robert followed up his win at Cupar the previous week by once again racing to victory in the Open 1600 metres Handicap.

Running from a mark of 100 metres Robert first wore down the challenge of Scott Green of Central AC before overhauling front markers John Thomson (Coaltown) and Alistair Gibson (Polmont) to take up the running off the final bend. He then went on to break the tape in four minutes 20.78 seconds.

Darren Thomson has contested the final of every 90 metres Handicap he has competed in this season and Alva was no different.

The Bathgate athlete came through both his heat and semi before going on to finish fifth in the final.

It was also a very busy afternoon for 12-year-old Lauren Arbuckle from Addiewell as she contested six events.

She began by running in the heats of the Youth's 90 metres handicap where she was eliminated.

She then won her heat in the 200 metres prior to finishing second in the final. She was out of the prizes in the 400 metres before going on to take fourth place in the 800 metres and third in the 1600 metres. Her relay team also placed fourth.

There is a busy spell coming up for the athletes on the highland games circuit with events on four successive days. On Saturday there is the Loch Lomond Games at Balloch, it's then two days in Fife at Thornton on Sunday and Burntisland on Monday, with the Inverary Games on the Tuesday.

The Lothian Club runners have also been doing well in road races. Edel Mooney took the Women's title at the Famous Grouse Crieff 10k Race on Sunday.

Edel completed the course in 38m 29s and finished an excellent 12th overall of the 247 runners who finished.

The club's Alan Robertson also contested the event and finished in 80th place in 46m 27s.

Further south in the Scottish Borders the club's Brian Turner produced a fine performance to finish in fourth place in the Kelso Crawlers 10k race in a time of 35m 18s.