For the second year in succession Disability Sport Fife (DSF) and Fife Athletic Club hosted round 3 of the East Series Cross Country on behalf of Scottish Athletics and Scottish Disability Sport. The venue was the Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy and the organisers thank Kirkcaldy Rugby Club for access to their club pavilion and facilities for the duration of the event.
Despite temperatures as low as 2 degrees, 112 athletes and support staff made their way to Kirkcaldy and braved the conditions. Fife AC volunteer officials had the course marked out well in advance of the first event. “Ronnie on the bike” led off all the lead runners over 500m, 1K, 2K and 3K. Conditions under foot were challenging at times but all runners made it back safely and with a time to be considered along with times recorded at Peffermill in Edinburgh in rounds 1,2 and 4 of the East Series respectively.
DSF welcomed Lothian schools Harmeny, Cedarbank and Woodlands and Perth HS in particular to Fife. There was once again a strong Fife representation from Buckhaven Primary, Bell Baxter HS, Balwearie HS, Levenmouth Academy, Lochgelly HS, Woodmill HS, Madras College and Fife AC. Cumulative performances over the four rounds of the East Series determine the leading 2017/2018 athletes. There were many fine performances on the day.
The first race was 500m for Primary pupils and top three positions were taken by Harmeny athletes with Damien Millar recording the fastest Primary time of 2.26. Demi – Rose Dunsire from first timers Buckhaven Primary, was the leading girl in 3.28. Over the same distance Aaliyah Black (S1) from Bell Baxter HS was the first S1-S3 girl athlete to finish. Chloe McCallum (S5) and Rebecca Fairley (S2) from Balwearie HS finished second and third respectively.
The second 500m race for S1-S3 boys resulted in Ross Gray (S5) from Woodlands school recording the third fastest time in 2.30. Jack Hanley (S1) from Bell Baxter HS was second fastest in 2.18 and Shaun Carter (S2) from Balwearie HS was fastest overall in 2.10.
The third race was the first 1K event and involved all secondary school girls. Leah Ford (S1) from Lochgelly HS crossed the finishing line first in 5.10 and she was followed in by Sophie Coughlin (S2) Bell Baxter HS in 5.24 and Rosalind Penman (S4) Balwearie HS.
Race four included S1-S3 boys and Ryan Baird from Lochgelly HS (S2) recorded the fastest time in 4.34. Cieran Dunn (S1) from Levenmouth Academy had an excellent run in 4.53 to finish second and similarly Jordan Mooney (S1) from Woodlands School in 5.20 to finish third. The S4-S6 boys 1K was the fifth race and Cedarbank pupils Stuart Stevenson (S4) and Kyle McGrandles (S5) finished first and third respectively in 3.44 and 3.58. Richard Allan (S5) from Levenmouth Academy split the two Lothian athletes to finish second in 3.54.
The sixth and final race of the day involved the most experienced athletes running over 2K and 3K. Dionne Russell from Perth HS (S4) was the fastest girl over 2k in 14.19 and sisters Louise and Michelle Harley (S5) occupied second and third spots in 14.47 and 15.21. Pauline Latto making a return to cross country running was the first physically impaired athlete home in 15.51. Mathew Blair (S6) was the leading 2K boy in 8.23 and Nathan Dougal (S1) Harmeny runner up in 8.25. Arran Howe from Bell Baxter HS (S5) crossed the line third in 8.51.
Madras College pupils occupied top three positions in the boys 3k with Josh Gibson (S4) finishing first in 14.00 and Nathan Orr (S5) and Kieran Beaton (S5) finishing second and third respectively in 19.08 and 19.59. The senior 3K race involved Fife AC athletes Owen Miller, Sam Fernando and Carter Taylor and they finished in that order in 9.41, 9.55 and 11.44. Owen and Carter are coached by Steve Doig and Sam by Ron Morrison.
Well done to all the athletes, support staff and volunteers who braved the elements at the East Series cross country event. The Disability Sport Fife Cross Country Championships will be held in the same location on Thursday 17th May.
Photo: Carter Taylor, Sam Fernando and Owen Miller of Fife AC
Richard Brickley MBE – President Disability Sport Fife