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National Cross Country Race – Falkirk – 21st February 2026

Posted by TEL AC on

On February 21st, 2026, Callendar House in Falkirk hosted the Lindsays National Cross Country Championships. This historic event has been running for over 90 years and marked its 20th staging at Callendar House. More than 2,000 athletes competed, ranging from Under-13s to Masters and Seniors.

A young girl with long blonde hair running in a cross-country race, wearing a purple and blue athletic uniform. She appears focused and determined, with a muddy trail in the background.
Three young female runners participating in a cross-country race, with spectators in the background. The runner in the middle is wearing a yellow top and black shorts, while the other two wear different color combinations. The scene is set on a grassy field.
A young boy running in a cross-country race, wearing a purple and blue athletic uniform and a knee support. Spectators are clapping in the background, with tents and other participants visible.
Two young boys competing in a cross country race, one wearing a white shirt with number 1474 and the other in a purple shirt with number 1457, running on a grassy field surrounded by spectators.

A major highlight of the day was the return of Laura Muir to the National Championships after 14 years. She first won the event in 2012 in the Under-20 category and has since gone on to achieve global success, including an Olympic silver medal in Tokyo in the 1500m, a World Championship bronze in Oregon in 2022, and multiple European Indoor gold medals.

The weather created ideal cross-country conditions—dry, calm, and fast. The course featured several sharp turns, a few short, steep climbs, and only minimal muddy sections.

Under 13 Girls

Three athletes represented Team East Lothian in the opening race of the day:

  • Ailsa O’Day – 39th in 14:09
  • Josie Macintyre – 95th in 15:56
  • Carly Douglas – 117th in 17:07

Under 13 Boys

Team East Lothian had two runners in the U13 Boys race:

  • Fergus Mackenzie – 51st in 13:48
  • Adam Connolly – 79th in 14:29

Under 15 Girls

The U15 Girls raced over 4.3km, with two TEL athletes competing:

  • Abi Campbell – 77th in 19:39
  • Kate Douglas – 100th in 20:31
A group of seven young female athletes posing together at an outdoor event, wearing athletic clothing and purple hoodies, with a Scottish Athletics banner and a tent in the background.

(Photo of the U13 and U15 Girls with Laura Muir)

A young female runner in a purple athletic uniform, wearing bib number 187, races through a muddy area during a cross-country event. Spectators are visible in the background.
A female athlete in a purple tank top and shorts running through a muddy section of a cross country course, with spectators and other runners visible in the background.

Under 15 Boys

One athlete represented Team East Lothian:

  • Tom Ibbs – an excellent 10th place finish in 14:37 in a highly competitive field.
A young athlete in a purple jersey with the number 1765 races on a grassy field, surrounded by spectators and event tents during a cross-country running event.

Under 17 Men

The U17 Men raced over 5.9km, with four TEL athletes taking part:

  • Joe Smith – 11th in 19:37 and selected for the East Scotland Inter-Counties team, which will compete in Nottingham in the coming weeks.
  • Thomas Gornall – 30th in 20:48
  • Leo Grilli – 37th in 21:28
  • Frank Brown – 69th in 24:03
Five young male athletes posing together in athletic gear, numbered jerseys, with a dog sitting beside them at a race event.
Two male cross-country runners competing on a grassy course, with one in purple and the other in yellow, surrounded by trees and spectators.
A young male athlete wearing a purple running jersey and shorts is sprinting along a muddy path during a race, with spectators and competitors in the background.
Two competitive male runners sprinting on a grassy course during a cross-country race, with trees in the background.
A group of young athletes running in a cross-country race on a grassy field, with trees in the background.

Under 20 Women

One athlete competed for TEL in the U20 Women’s race:

  • Kirsty Roden – 36th on the 7.6km course in 33:47

Senior Women

In the Senior Women’s race, Laura Muir claimed a decisive victory over the 10km course, finishing in 35:00—her first win in the Senior Women’s category.

A female runner in a race wearing a numbered bib, sprinting on a muddy track with spectators and tents in the background.