Scottish runners dominate British Athletics’ latest cross country challenge on home soil
On November 11, athletes from across the UK converged on Glasgow to take part in the third UK Athletics Cross Challenge event at Alexandra Park.
Competing in cold, snowy conditions, runners not only battled each other but also the tough, hilly terrain of the golf course as the event doubled as the Scottish Inter-County Championships.
Central AC’s Jamie Crowe entered the senior men’s race as defending champion having won last year’s Challenge at Renfree and was hoping to claim victory after finishing 11th at Liverpool Cross in November.
The 8km course, which consisted of three challenging turns, saw the leading group stay together until the closing stages where Crowe made his move to pull away and secure the title.
Aidan Thompson, Crowe’s training partner, finished second with Cameron Allan of Huyton Harriers third.
Aidan Thompson, Jamie Crowe and Cameron Allan (Bobby Gavin)
Reflecting on his win, Crowe said: It came down to the last kilometer so I’m happy to win.
“In the first couple of laps I was getting used to the look and I realized which sections I felt better about, the hill climbs and the sharp corners. With one lap to go, I pushed forward from there and was lucky to miss, so I I didn’t have to finish the sprint because my legs were going.”
Lynne McKenna of Shettleston took control in the senior women’s race ahead of her rivals including Morag Miller of Central AC and Mountain World Cup champion Scout Adkin of Moorfoot who finished second and third respectively.
As he entered the final lap of the course, McKenna pushed on decisively to take victory, his performance coming just a week after setting a personal best of 9:25.07 at the Scottish Indoor Championships.
McKenna said Scottish Athletics“I’ve run this course before and I knew the hills suited me, so I knew if I was in the lead group I could see where I was after a lap or two, I felt pretty strong , so I pushed it forward and this time no one got behind me, so it paid off.
“I never take for granted who is in the race with me, and I give everyone the respect they deserve. These girls have a lot of experience, so to win today is very special.”
Lynn McKenna (Bobby Gavin)
While the snow stayed away from the senior races, it did make an appearance during the junior men’s races, which included both the under-20 and under-17 6km races.
In the junior men’s race, Moorfoot trainer Thomas Hilton marked the start of 2025 with a strong win to claim first place in the under-20 category as he pulled away from the pack in the final lap.
He crossed the finish line nine seconds ahead of Eric Nederheim, while Joe Dixon of Morpeth finished third.
In the Under 17 category, Andrew Baird from Ross County put in a great performance to improve on his fifth place in Liverpool, ahead of DaÃbhid Kinnaird from Cambuslang and Alasdair McLean from Giffnock North.
The junior ladies race was another exciting contest with Zoe Gilbody of Telford AC winning by 22 seconds.
The win added to Gilbody’s outstanding cross country so far, which has included Great Britain’s team gold at the European Championships in Antalya.He also enjoyed third place at the Cardiff Cross Challenge and fourth in Liverpool.
He told AW:“I felt strong today, I was surprised. I was surprised by the amount of hills in it, and three laps of it is tough. My goal was just to try to skip on the way down and then see what I had left.”
In the under-20 category, Gilbody was followed by Swansea’s Hannah Keenan in fourth, with Anastasia Nilsson claiming bronze.
In the Under 17 race, Isla McGowan from Banbury continued her excellent form with a gold medal and an impressive second place overall, with Zara Redmond from Kilbarchan securing silver on home turf and Olivia Forrest from Brentwood Beagles taking bronze.
The under 15 boys race had an entertaining finish as Ross County’s Billy Sutherland celebrated his first Cross Challenge win by jumping over the finish line, Sutherland winning ahead of Falkirk Victoria Harriers Luke Sedman and Rory McMillan respectively.
In the under 15 girls’ race, Maddison Welby of Lisburn and Windsor’s Cara Gorman battled it out for top spot, with Welby eventually taking silver as Freya Brown of Laswade. took third place.
Madison Kindler continued her dominant form in the U13 girls race, securing her third straight win in the Cross Challenge series. Emma Nicholson from Giffnock North was runner-up and Ellie Blackhurst from Preston was third.
The under 13 boys saw Musselburgh’s Tom Ibbs edge ahead of Law and County’s Alexander Wotherspoon, with Preston’s Albert Yates in third.
Click here to watch a video from Saturday’s Cross Challenge.
The next stop on the British Athletics Cross Challenge series will be in Leeds at Temple Newsam on February 8.
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