Inter Counties Cross Country Report
February 26th, 20072 athletes from Gala Harriers made the long journey to Nottingham at the weekend to represent the East of Scotland in the premier event of the British cross country season. The Inter Counties brings together nearly all the top cross country runners in the UK. Conditions were typically muddy on the Woolaton Park course with athletes in every race having to contend with heavy ground.
Kate Jenkins was competing in the Senior women’s race over 8000metres. After a steady start she gradually made her way through the field of over 300 runners to finish in 129th position in 34mins 52secs. This was a much improved performance from last season when Kate didn’t finish. She was also the 6th counter for the East team who finished in a very creditable 12th place in the team race.
In the U13 girls race Alice Haining put the disappointment of being pipped at the line at the Scottish Championships behind her and took on the best young girls in the UK. As with all the junior races the start was very fast. Haining was mid pack after the first hill but after the descent was completed she had moved into the top 20. Considering that this was the first time the young Gala Harrier had competed at this level, she revelled in the competition. As the athletes who had made fast starts began to tire, Alice caught several more runners on the second lap. She eventually finished in a superb 4th place just 5 seconds behind the bronze medal winner in a time of 14mins 37secs. The Harrier was the highest placed athlete from the East of Scotland across all 10 races and the only U13 athlete from Scotland participating.
