ROUND three of the East Series Cross Country Championship was held for the first time at the Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy and Lochgelly High runners were to the fore.

Fife AC, Kirkcaldy HS and Kirkcaldy Rugby Club organised the event on behalf of Scottish Athletics and Scottish Disability Sport.

155 athletes registered from schools and clubs in Fife, Lothian and Perth.

On the day because of terrible weather, Cedarbank pupils were the only Lothian representatives and only one Perth athlete made it to Fife because of a M90 road closure.

There was a strong representation of pupils from Madras College, Bell Baxter HS, Balwearie HS, Woodmill HS, Buckhaven HS, Lochgelly HS, Rosslyn School and Rimbleton Primary.

The boys 1k race was won by Dean Bruce (S4) from Bell Baxter HS in a time of 5.27 with Kyle McGrandles (S3) Cedarbank and Shakeel Ul Haq (S2) Lochgelly HS finishing in second and third respectively in 5.32 and 5.36. The leading physically disabled runner over 1k was Connor Brown from Woodmill HS who completed the course in 7.48. 47 athletes completed the 1k race and will be awarded points per year group over the four round East Series to determine the overall year group winner.

The equivalent race for girls resulted in a win for Jennifer Paton (S6) Balwearie HS in 7.11 who finished ahead of Mari Davidson (S1) Buckhaven HS 7.34 and Kerry Kotlewski (S3) Bell Baxter HS 7.40. Chloe Hutchison (S4) and Jenna Richardson (S1) from madras College were placed first and second in the event for physically disabled athletes over 1k in times of 7.24 and 13.51 respectively.

In the Primary events over 1k, Teigon Munro (P3) from Rimbleton won the girls race and Freya Howgate (P7) from Perth was the winner of the race for physically disabled pupils. Alexander Scott, Oscar Robson and Garry Patrick from Rimbleton finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively in the boys race in 8.27, 9.13 and 9.24.

Louise Harley (S3) Lochgelly HS was the winner of the girls 2K in 13.22 and Jennifer Grist (S2) Balwearie HS finished 2nd in 16.33.

The 2k boys race winner was Isaac Fraser (S5) Balwearie HS in 10.21 with Casey Donaldson (S3) and Mathew Blair (S4) from Woodmill HS finishing 2nd and 3rd in 11.32 and 12.42 respectively.

The final race of the day was run over 3k and Balwearie HS pupils finished in the top three positions. Brandon Eason finished 1st in 17.05, Stuart Taylor 2nd in 17.40 and Dylan Fotheringham 3rd in 19.03. The Seniors race involved Fife AC T20 athletes Owen Miller who is coached by Steve Doig and Sam Fernando who is coached by Ron Morrison. Race favourite and current Scottish champion Owen Miller, completed the 3k course in 11.48 with Sam 2nd in 12.17. By the time the 3k race finished the rain had started to subside and not before time.

DSF acknowledges the support received from many partners in the staging of the first East Series Cross Country event held in Fife.