North District Cross Country, Elgin - 13/02/2010

The Caithness AAC athletes set off for Elgin last weekend for the final North District Cross Country League fixture of 2009-10. Many of the athlete's performances have been improving over the season and it was hoped that they could maximise the opportunity to gain high overall League placings.

Hopes were high for a number of athletes to gain overall medal positions but it was all down to the performances in the last race which was run over a course with varied underfoot conditions and one severe hill to test the runners determination.

There was a certain degree of confusion as the athletes tried to determine the courses they had to tackle due to a lack of course flags and poor marking. There was also a late change to the Under 15 Girls/Under 17 Women's course which meant that instead of 2 miles, the girls had to run 3 miles which tested some of the athletes' endurance levels.

As the races unfolded, more could not have been asked of any of the athletes as they proved just how determined they are. The first pleasing result of the day came from Rhiannon Kirk in the Under 11 Girls who, having missed the last fixture had put a great deal of pressure on herself. She had to complete this race in a high placing as athletes' final scores are determined over four races and Rhiannon to date had only complete three.

Unconcerned by this Rhiannon worked well to come home in fourth place which give her an overall third placing in the League. Mark O'Brien in the Under 11 Boys worked well through the field to record a 7th place finish which bodes well for his future.

In the Under 15 Girls, Emma Dunnett dominated the race finishing over a minute ahead of twin sister Oonagh who likewise was 45 seconds ahead of the next runner. Due to commitments further South, Emma had not completed the required number of races over the season, but Oonagh made the most of the opportunity to keep up the family tradition and scoring 397 out of a possible 400 maximum points, won the overall League gold.

Race of the day went to the Under 15 Boys and Rob Murdoch. Rob had three thirds and a fourth placing carried forward from previous races and needed a top three result at Elgin to get in the medals. Over a three mile course, Rob judged his race to perfection in moving through the pack from fifth to second place. His determination was evident as not only did he score his highest placing of the session but also recording his closes finish to Craig Campbell, Inverness Harrier, the eventual League winner. Rob's second place secured him third overall in the League which was well deserved.

Not to be outdone two of the older athletes also managed to squeeze themselves into the medal placings with consistent performances over the season which they maintained in the final fixture. Sarah MacKinnon placed a comfortable second in Elgin to take third overall in the Under 17 Women and Jake Anderson took fourth in Elgin to clinch third League place in the Under 17 Men. Just outside the medals but worthy of praise is Hannah Paterson who completed a cross country season with a third placing at Elgin to finish just 2 points outside the medals in the Under 17 Women.

This fixture completes the Scottish Athletics cross country events for these athletes although the older athletes will be competing in Gordonstoun on the 23rd February in the North District Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships.

The full CAAC results in Elgin were as follows:-

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