ANOTHER EXCELLENT RUN FROM SARAH AT WORLD TRIALS

Updated: 2010-03-15
Lothian Running Club’s Sarah Inglis’ recent fine vein of form continued at the weekend with another sparkling performance in the McCain UK Cross Challenge Final in Birmingham.
The prestigious event also incorporated both the I.A.A.F. World Cross Country Trials and UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Championship.

Sarah, a second year PE student at Edinburgh University was representing the Scotland East District in the Women’s Under-20 race which saw all the top ranked junior cross country athletes in Great Britain in a high quality line up.

Under foot conditions at Cofton Park on Saturday afternoon were ideal, however, as the large field of 138 runners snaked their way around the undulating course they had to contend with a strong swirling wind on the hill sections.

Running a perfect race Sarah was always up with the leading group of eight runners who had broken away from the main bunch.

Tucked in in sixth place behind fellow Scot Beth Potter from the Victoria Park Glasgow Club, the two of them then tested the resolve of one of the pre race favourites Kate Avery and passed her on the final uphill climb before turning back for the finish.

As the finish line approached a determined final burst from Sarah saw her out-sprint her Scottish counterpart by a mere second, covering the 6000 metres course in 21 minutes 04 seconds for an excellent fourth place.

Victory went to Emelia Gorecka, Surrey [20:40] from in second Annabel Gummow, Cornwall [20:53] with in third Hannah Walker, Hertfordshire [21:00].

Sarah who was delighted with her run was due to find out on Wednesday [17th] if she had been selected for the Great Britain team for the World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Sunday March 28th.

Shane Fenton