Scottish Athletics Hill Races - 2010

Caithness teenagers, Emma and Oonagh Dunnett have had a dual call-up to represent Scotland as a result of consistent racing over the summer.

Emma and Oonagh tried their hands this season at hill running as a means of maintaining their racing form out of the cross country season and have made the transition from cross country to hill running with good effect.

The girls who compete for Edinburgh Athletic Club as Under 17's, competed as first year Under 16's in the hill racing world and as such this was their first season where they could look for International selection. Emma and Oonagh completed two hill races as part of the selection process on very different terrain.

Ben Lomond Hill Race - May 2010

The first race over rugged conditions in places became more of a bolder hopping competition which meant that any athlete who enjoying racing at a consistent pace were in for a shock. The Ben Lomond course formed part of the full seniors hill race and although the junior courses were challenging, they did not match the demands of the full senior race which involved running to the top trig point..... and back down again.

The Ben Lomond race in May was also the National Hill Running Championships and Emma and Oonagh's final placing of 3rd (24.12min) and 4th (25.07min) respectively was very pleasing. The Under 16 girl's race was won by Louise Mercer from Teviotdale (22.52min) after the second placed runner Helina Reece, Fife AC (23.00min) took a wrong turn.

Menstrie Hill Race - August 2010

The second hill race which acted as the main selection race for the International was held at Menstrie and took on more the look of a very steep cross country course, with the race all on tracks and grassy hill sloops. The 4.1km course was easier underfoot for the athletes apart from a 400m section which had to be navigated twice and which slowed runners to a lung bursting walk.

The race was won by Louise Mercer (19.08min) with Emma taking second (19.04min) and Oonagh in third (20.13mim). With the first two athletes in each race gaining automatic selection, Emma had secured her place. Oonagh on the other hand had to wait for word of her selection from Scottish Athletics.

The Junior Home international takes place in Dublin on the 19th September and will see the four man Scottish teams in the Under 16 and Under 19 male and female age groups up against England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Although Emma has represented Scotland previously as part of the winning Celtic Cup team in Belfast last January, this is Oonagh's first taste of Scottish selection.

report & photo from Sophie Dunnett

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