Mackay breaks record in prestigious Uni race

Published 11 Nov 2009 14:00

Inverclyde AC athlete Chris Mackay continued his terrific series of performances in 2009 with another record breaking run last Saturday.

Chris had travelled to Glasgow to defend his title at the Deloitte Glasgow University Five-Mile Road Race. This is a long established autumn road race with a prestigious list of previous winners.

Road changes and police objections have resulted in the route being altered over the years, the weekend's course having been in use for the last five years.

Spectators were anticipating an exciting race as the field assembled and it became clear that a number of Scotland's top road racers were in attendance.

Joining Chris on the start line were Scottish Cross Country champion Alistair Hay, Ross Toole, Inverclyde AC team-mate Mark Pollard, Matthew Gillespie and Connor McNulty.

From the start it was clear that quick times were possible, as Hay and McNulty set a strong early pace in the calm and cool conditions.

These two dragged all the key contenders clear of the large field within the first mile. As the leaders approached the end of the first lap, of this two-lap race, McNulty's early surge had petered out and there was a small group of four clear - Mackay, Hay, Gillespie and Toole - with Pollard passing McNulty and chasing the leaders hard.

As the leaders attacked the climb out of Garscube Estate, Hay upped the pace and pulled himself and Mackay clear and it was now between these two close friends and rivals.

Chris and Alistair have been battling all year long on the road, track and cross country, starting back in April when they both ran sub four-minute miles on the Greenock Esplanade.

Approaching the last mile, Chris made his move, kicking hard off the top of the last climb and quickly gaining a winning advantage as both athletes raced hard for the finish.

As Chris entered the finish arena it became obvious that a new course record was on, and also the possibility of a sub 24-minute performance.

With the spectators roaring him on, Chris accelerated for the line, crossing in a new course record and new personal best time of 24mins 02secs.

Just behind in second was Alistair Hay, nine seconds adrift and running a new personal best, with Ross Toole completing a trio of personal best times in third.

Inverclyde athlete Mark Pollard finished fifth in 25.05.

After the finish it transpired Chris didn't realise how close to 24 minutes he was, and a debilitating side stitch hampered his finishing sprint, preventing him achieving this milestone.

This result continues Chris's streak of setting personal best times over every distance he has competed at in 2009.

Pollard and MacKay will now target a 10K road race in Leeds before taking on the West District Cross Country Championships on 5 December at Irvine.

Winner of the ladies' race was Toni McIntosh of Ayr Seaforth. Other Inverclyde AC athletes to run on Saturday were Robert Shaw in a time similar to last year and John Smillie who was running this course for the first time.

It was also good to see a decent field turn out for this race that is one of Glasgow University's Hares and Hounds' main fund-raising events of the year.

Hopefully more Inverclyde AC athletes will take part next year.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 11 Nov 09

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