Law senior team finish ninth in top cross-country competition

Oct 15 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

LAW and District athletes contested the West District cross-country relays over Irvine Moor on Saturday.

Many put in excellent performances, with Craig Wellcoat setting the fastest lap for an under-15 boy.

But the performance of the day was by the senior team who achieved an excellent ninth place in a race where world-class Eritrean athletes helped Shettleston to a wide margin of victory.

Law’s senior men's team was led off by Mark Hand, who took two hours’ lunch break from his work in Livingston, drove through to Irvine, ran the first leg and immediately set off back for work!

Gary Grieve, Jimmy Macdonald and Jamie McMorrow completed the team, with Jamie setting Law's fastest time.

The young athletes' relay format begins with an under-13 runner in the first leg, who passes to an under-15 runner who in turn passes to an under-17 athlete.

The girls were short of numbers due to holidays and injury but those who did take part ran really well, with Sherrelle Graham and Leona Baillie mixing it with the best in Scotland for a long time in the under-13 leg before inexperience told.

In the under-15 leg, Samantha Stevenson put in a fine run as usual before handing to Emma Bhatti, who ran the under-17 leg although still an under-15 athlete.

Emma showed that her running is progressing, holding her own in the leg.

Law boys fielded three teams, with Rory McLaughlin, Craig Wellcoat and Jonathan Velu finishing sixth, Luke Foss, Ross Hill and Dougie Frame taking 18th spot and a very young team of Stephen Murphy, Daniel Graham and Bobby Hill finishing 30th.

Law also had another three boys who ran individual legs. Ryan Fernon finished just behind team-mate Stephen Murphy.

Daniel Grieve and Ross Macdonald also posted very good times in the under-15 and under-17 legs, respectively.