First senior title for Sarah Inglis

Jul 21 2011 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

LOTHIAN Running Club’s Sarah Inglis landed her first Senior track title at the 119th Scottish Athletics Championships at Scotstoun Stadium, in Glasgow on Sunday.

In the Women’s 5000 metres the 19-year-old Edinburgh University Physical Education student had to dig deep and show plenty of resolve to fend off the determined challenge of Falkirk Victoria Harriers’ veteran athlete Fiona Mathieson.

After 12-and-a-half laps only just over two seconds separated the gold and silver medallists who both recorded new PBs for the distance.

Sarah’s winning time of 16 minutes 58.35 seconds was just over five seconds faster than her previous best, which was set in Manchester at the end of May.

Runner-up Mathieson crossed the line in 17mins 57secs with Kara Tait, of Kilmarnock AC, crossing in third with a time of 18mins 3.43secs.

It was a good week for Sarah, who a few days earlier had produced a good run to claim victory in the Self Transcendence two-mile race at the Meadows in Edinburgh.

The Lothian runner covered the course – a mile circuit that loops – in 10mins 32secs to cross the finish line 10 seconds clear of runner-up Elspeth Curran with Pitreavie AC’s Kathryn Pennel back in third place.

Four other club members were among a field of 52 runners who contested the race.

Scott Nelson finished 17th in (11min 46s), Kate Kitchin was 39th and 10th female in (13min 43s) with Bethany Nelson 39th and 12th female clocking (14min 22s).

Making up the club’s representation was Ian Hall who completed the course in 15min 30s for 48th place.

Meanwhile, Lothian Running Club were represented by six runners at the inaugural Falkirk Parkrun at Callendar Park on Saturday.

Highest-placed club finisher was Brian Turner in fourth with a time of 17min 44secs.

Ally Robertson, who finished 7th overall in 18:41, was first in the Junior 15-19 category.

Donald Shaw finished 15th in 20:11 with Marie Storrie the first club female home – 35th overall and fifth female – in 22:43.

Lana Turnbull was sixth female and 43rd overall as well as being first Junior female 15-19 in 23:13.

Mags Turnbull placed 85th overall and 20th female in 27:34 for the club.

Four of the five Lothian Running Club members who contested Saturday’s Edinburgh Parkrun recorded new personal bests for the 5k course.

Chloe Cox – who finished 10th overall and second female – set new figures of 18mins 28secs.

John Malcolm was the first male member home in 19th place in 19.16. He was closely followed in 19th place by David Berrill who bettered his PB to 19.27.

Jocelyn Moar was making her race debut and crossed the finish line in 22nd place and as fourth female in 19:52.

Finishing in 45th place and ninth female Leanne Webster improved her PB yet again, this time to 21:41.