Inverness athlete Mhairi Maclennan hopes to cap what has already been a successful cross-country season by producing another memorable performance in tomorrow’s national championships at Falkirk.
The Edinburgh University student has been in outstanding form throughout the winter campaign, the highlight of which came in December when she finished ninth in the under-23 women’s race in the European championships in Slovakia to help Great Britain win team gold medals.
That led to her earning a first Great Britain senior vest in the Edinburgh international in January where she finished 21st.
Maclennan was silver medallist in the Scottish under-20 championships three years ago but this weekend will be only her second appearance in the senior women’s race.
She said: “The only other time I have competed in the seniors was last year when I was struggling with injuries and finished ninth.
“My training has been going well this time, so I am looking forward to it.”
In its 86-year history the senior women’s title has been won by athletes from north of the Forth on only three occasions.
Aberdeen AAC’s Aileen Paterson picked up the top prize in 1959, while Debbie Kilner, also Aberdeen AAC, won in 1996 and Banchory Stonehaven AC’s Rhona Auckland struck gold in 2014.
Maclennan said: “I’ll just try to do as well as possible and see what that gets me.”
Scotland international Fiona Brian, who was seventh last year, will lead a Metro Aberdeen squad which has been weakened by injuries to Clare Bruce and Ginie Barrand.
The north-east club finished third in the team competition in 2017 and looked to have the potential to at least match that again.
Halkirk’s Andy Douglas will lead the north’s challenge for honours in the senior men’s race in the Falkirk event. The Great Britain mountain running international, who finished second in 2016, will be joined in the race by north champion John Newsom, who leads the Inverness Harriers team, and Will Mackay, who heads Aberdeen AAC’s squad.
Scotland international Finlay Todd (Ross County) leads a strong north contingent in the under-20 men’s race along with Connor Maclean (Stornoway Running Club) and Cameron Main (Moray Road Runners).
Sunny McGrath, of Deveron Harriers, bronze medallist in the under-15 age group last year, has stepped up to the under-17s but the North champion will hope to be competitive after taking fourth position at the inter-district championships in January.
Ross County’s Hamish Hickey is another north athlete aiming to do well, while Aberdeen AAC should be in the reckoning for a team medal with the likes of Adam Brown, Jack Gillespie, Harry hall, Nic Tierney and Adam Watt in the squad.