Moray Road Runners’ 10k race is won by Central AC duo with former Milnes High pupil Grace Whelan returning home to smash her personal best and win women’s race
Grace Whelan returned to her Moray homeland and smash her personal best in her former club’s 10k.
The Moray Road Runners’ race at Miltonduff was a big success for Central Athletics Club based in Stirling, with two students from the north triumphing in the male and female categories.
Stirling-based Whelan, who commutes to Strathclyde for her studies, produced the best run of her life to take three-and-a-half minutes off her PB to win the women’s race.
The former Milne’s High pupil and MRR athlete was involved in a battle with former Scotland international Jenny Bannerman (Inverness Harriers) for the female title, finishing 15 seconds ahead.
Whelan’s central club mate Hamish Hickey, a former Ross County AC athlete now in the Stirlingshire area, was only 30 seconds off his own PB in windy conditions in Moray to win the event.
He was first to the finish line in 30.50 with East Sutherland runner Shaun Cumming second in 31.25 and Aaron Cardno just seven seconds behind in third.
Moray Road Runners’ Sarah McIlvaney was fifth women home in 41.46 with clubmate Grace Jenkins sixth (43.39).
Deveron Harriers’ Josh Gordon was the junior champion in the 15-17 age category, coming in 11th in 36.43. Second in this age group was MRR’s Darren Green in 20th position overall.
Colin McRae was the first runner from the home club to the finish line in 35.17 for ninth place.
Former Forres Harrier Gordon Lennox (East Sutherland) won the 40-49 male category in 34.18, taking seventh place overall.
Moray Road Runners had the winner of the 50-59 age group in Stephen Carmichael in 37.48 for 18th position, while club colleague Graham Stephen was second in 39.43.
Age was no barrier for fast times, with Garioch Road Runners’ Rob Wynne the first 60+ runner to the line in 39.14 for 23rd place.
Also in the 60-69 range, Sarah Houston was first female home in 51.29.
MRR veteran Phill Thompson won the 70-74 category in 52.08 and there was even a 75+ champion in Stephen Waltin, clocking 57.06.
Forres Harriers were well represented in the field of 126 runners and Robert Paterson produced a sub-40 minute run for 28th place.
Club colleague Chris Gransden was third in the 60-69 age category in 43.50.
In the female 50-59 age range, Moray RR’s Anne Hewes was third in 46.33 behind winner Grace Chau (Garioch).