All roads lead to Callendar Park for an afternoon of international cross country action featuring some of the top runners in the country competing at the Home Countries International XC.
Sixteen athletes will represent Scotland with February’s National XC having been instrumental in selection at both Senior and U20 level. Scotland are competing against England, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland as well as some other English area teams.
The Scottish Schools will have teams competing in the SIAB International XC taking place before 2pm and ahead of the U20 and Senior races.
There are GB internationals in the Scotland selection with the Senior Men’s team featuring hill runner Andrew Douglas (Inverclyde), who took silver at the National XC, and Luke Caldwell, who raced for Scotland at Hampden in the Commonwealth Games over 5000m and 10,000m. Completing the lineup there are Michael Ferguson of Aberdeen AAC, following an excellent fourth place finish at the National XC, and there is a return to the international scene for Central AC stalwart, Alex Hendry, a former Scottish Inter-District champion.
The U20 Men’s team also looks strong with GB internationals Jonny Glen(Inverclyde AC) and Euan Gillham (Kilbarchan AAC) joined by Central AC’s Aidan Thompson and Ronhill Cambuslang’s Ryan Thomson.
Leading the Senior Women’s team is Sarah Inglis of Lothian Running Club, who helped Scotland win the Armagh International Road Race over 3K last month.
The first U20 and senior race is at 2.10pm and a map of the course + full start lists can be viewed via the scottishathletics website. The race running order is as follows:-
2.10pm: U20 Women 6K
2.35pm: U20 Men 8K
3.00pm: Senior Women 8K
3.30pm: Senior Men 10K
Admisson on the day: free entry for all spectators! Parking is available at Graeme High School with overflow parking at the business centre at the east end of Callendar Park and at the west end of Callendar Park (see course map).
There’s plenty more athletics to come in 2016. For news of all the spectator action subscribe to our free newsletter now!