On Saturday 2^nd December 16 Team East Lothian (TEL) athletes travelled to the Scottish Athletics East District Cross Country Championships in Balgownie Playing Fields in Aberdeen.  Conditions were below zero temperatures and the ground was ice hard and slippery.   The conditions didn’t stop some fantastic results from our local athletes.

First off was the under 13 girls 3.2km race where Imogen Turner led from the start to take the win in 11 minutes and 10 seconds.  With Morven Kenny (11:30) in 5^th place, Ava Rose Curtis (12:00) in 11^th and Tessa Russell (12:02) in 12^th.   With those excellent performances, the under 13 girls also won the team gold.

The under 13 boys ran the same course as the under 13 girls and was fast from the gun in a very competitive field.  Tom Ibbs had a fantastic race to come home in 10^th place, with a time of 10 minutes and 48 seconds.

Next up was the under 15 girls.  Flora Lawson had a great run and over the 4.2km course in a time of 16 minutes and 6 seconds to take 16^th place overall and Sula Russell dug deep to come home in 25^th place, one second under 17 minutes. 

In the highly competitive under 15 boys race, Joe Smith came home in 13 minutes and 28 seconds for 7^th place, Jake Page close behind in 13 minutes and 37 seconds in 8^th, Thomas Gornall in 14 minutes and 10 seconds for 14^th place,  Jacob Lamb in 15 minutes and 25 seconds for 26^th place and Luke Mercer in 15 minutes and 45 seconds in 28^th place.  The excellent performances from the under 15 boys earned them a team silver medal.

The under 17 course was a 2 lap 5.7km route and first up was the men.  Ronnie Brown ran an excellently timed race to move through the sharp end of the field and take a very well deserved silver medal in 17 minutes and 12 seconds.  Charlie Copp ran well to come home in 26^th place in a time of 18 minutes and 50 seconds

In the under 20 men’s 6.4km race, Aidan Page ran an excellent 20 minutes and 51 seconds to come home in 7^th place and Jamie Smith placed 18^th in a time of 22 minutes and 19 seconds.