Ross Matheson (LAC) East Lothian Young Athlete for 2008, has made a fantastic start to 2009 by taking the silver medal in the under 17 boys Scottish Athletic National Cross Country Championships at Falkirk last Saturday. The expected battle for the challenge to Kilbarchan's Callum Hawkins from Andrew Chrichton(EAC) from Dunbar never materialised as he pulled up suddenly in the first mile with a pulled muscle. Ross's more conservative start saw him pull through from 5th place on the first lap to second place on the final lap to finish just 26 seconds behind Hawkins. He has now been selected to represent Scotland at the Inter-counties event in two weeks time.

Several East Lothian athletes took part in the Championships another notable performance came from 14 yo Olivia MacKenzie (EAC) who finished 11th in the under 15 girls race in 16m05s. Megan Wright (HBT) was 10th in the Senior women's race behind runaway winner Freya Murray who originates from Pathhead.

In the Junior Boys under 13 race Innes Ogilvie (HELP) was79th in 14m52s; Jyle Dunlop (HELP) was 118th in 16m36s and John Archer (MADAC) was 130th in 17m37s.
Local Under 13 Girls were Fiona Matheson(LAC) 50th in 15m44s;Kerry Morris
(MADAC) 67th 16m20s; Emily Baxter (HELP) 73rd; Kate Archilbald 75th and Georgina Loudon (EAC) 84th.
Kate Watson(HELP) was the only other local Under 15 girl  to finish in 89th place in 19m22s.and Peter Loudon (EAC) finished in 27m26s in the Under 17 Boys event.
Anne Hay (DRC) and Ruth Watson (HELP) had a battle royal in the Senior Women's race, both FV 45 category Anne managed to stay ahead by just one place 110th and just 7 seconds finishing in 38m55s.

The Senior Men's event saw over 400 runners charge off from the start over their 3 lap 12 k course. David Wright (HBT) The East Lothian Champion from the previous week was first East Lothian Senior to finish in 58th place in 41m43s; Alistair Hennesy (EAC) was 104th in 44m07s; Andrew Matheson (LAC) was 135th in 45m14s; Ian Rowland (DRC) 143rd in 45m34s; Dermott Ferry
(MADAC) 201st in 48m10s;Alex Oliver (MADAC) 299th 52m06s; Frank McPartland
(HELP) 330th 53m33s;
Tony Segall (MADAC) 343rd 54m 45s;Neil White (MADAC) 360th 56m05s; Fred McCain (HELP) 373rd  in 56m52s; Gordon Eadie (MADAC) 377th 57m30s; And Paddy McDonald (HELP) 378th in 57m32s

With six runners need in the team events no single East Lothian Club was able to complete a full team.

Henry Muchamore
Pacemaker.