Chris is new national 3k champ
Published 16 Feb 2011 10:55
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GOLD MEDAL: Chris stands tall on the podium at the Kelvin Hall at the weekend after his national indoor 3k win.
CHRIS MacKay became Inverclyde AC's latest national champion when he comfortably won the Scottish senior mens' 3k indoor title at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow.
In the 3k final, Chris sat behind early leaders Robert Russell of Central AC and Dermott Cummings of Corstorphine until the halfway mark, then gradually eased away to take the victory, clocking a time of 8.17.87 to take his first-ever Scottish 3k indoor title.
Chris is also the second Inverclyde AC athlete to win a national title within the past month, with Dan Mulhare winning the national 4k cross-country title at the end of January.
Chris, along with the club's other top runners, will now focus on the national cross-country championships at Callendar Park, Falkirk, on Saturday.
Mark Pollard took sixth place in the 3k final, clocking a time of 8.47.37.
The previous Thursday, Mark also finished 10th overall in the 21st Armagh International 5k road race. Mark, who is the national assistant endurance coach, clocked a time of 14.49.
Chris and Mark have both just returned from a three-week training camp at altitude in South Africa.
After the race, Chris said he felt really fit after his training stint and thanks Scottish Athletics for funding the trip.
He also said he was hoping to put in a strong performance alongside his Inverclyde team mates at Falkirk on Saturday.
Also, at the Aviva Indoor UK trials and championships, Dan Mulhare - who is in a rich vein of form at the moment - clocked an excellent new personal best of 8.02.20.
Dan finished fourth overall and as first Irish finisher in the 3k final at Sheffield on Sunday.
He will be hoping to keep up this excellent form at the Irish Indoor Championships this weekend.
One other excellent showing at the weekend came from
under-17 runner Greg Williams at the Glasgow Park race at Pollok Park on Saturday morning.
Greg finished fifth overall, clocking an excellent new PB of 17.23 for this tough 5k course.
This Saturday, all roads lead to Falkirk for the national cross-country championships.
The first race of the day is for the under-13 boys over 3.2k and this gets under way at 11.30am.
The women's 8k event starts at 1.25pm, with the senior mens' race over 12k - in which Inverclyde are the defending team champions - starting last at 2.30pm.
The mens' race looks wide open again this year, with the favourite being Alastair Hay of Central AC, who will be going for three wins in a row.
The bus for the juniors, ladies and club coaches will leave at 8.45am. More details in the club newsletter.
The senior men and supporters should meet at James Watt College at 11am.
Hopefully, there will be another big turnout of club supporters at this event to cheer on all the age groups, as it is a big help to the athletes running.
Finally, thanks to Peter for his excellent fast results at the Renfrewshire last Sunday.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 16 Feb 11
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