Date:- 10/05/2008
Time:- 03:10:20
Time:- 03:10:20
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 Inter-District Cross Country - Edinburgh - 12/01/2008
Bright sunshine and a stunning backdrop awaited the Caithness athletes as they arrived at Holyrood, Edinburgh for the Interdistrict Championships. This Championship between selected teams from North, East and West provides an excellent opportunity for athletes to participate at national level competition. Athletes were selected on their performances over the various North District league races and their placings in the North District Championships. The Championships is run in conjunction with the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country and Celtic Nations Cross Country and as such attracts the worlds best cross country and endurance track athletes. The Interdistrict Championships are held over the Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 age groups as separate races and combined with the elite races for the Senior Women and Men. For Sheila Gollan from Caithness representing the North team that meant stepping up to the line against the likes of Gelete Burka (Ethiopia) who is the worlds best and Stephanie Twell from England who at the age of 18 is set to have a bright future in athletics having already won the European Junior Cross Country Championships.
In the Men's race, Matthew Sutherland, a CAAC athlete and P.E. student at Edinburgh University had the equally daunting task of lining up with Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) who has won the World Cross Country Championships no less than five times between 2002 and 2006 in both the 4k and 12k races. Also in this race was Andrew Douglas from Caithness who was representing Glasgow University. The day was also about spotting stars of present day athletics and those of previous years such as Brendan Foster and Steve Cram. Members of the International Amateur Athletics federation were in attendance as Edinburgh is playing host to the Home Counties Cross Country International on the 29th March and then the World Cross Country Championships on following day; the 30th March. Many of the athletes in the elite races were using the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country as an opportunity to race over the course that they will compete over in March. Also for the Under 13's, 15's and Under17's there was be the opportunity to be selected for the Inter Counties Cross Country International which takes place in Nottingham on the 15th March.
Overall Caithness athletes acquitted themselves well with 12 athletes selected to participate. Andrew Douglas chose to compete for his University team but did not complete the course having recently returned to training following an injury. The top Caithness finisher of the day was Jade Currie who put up a strong performance to finish 7th in the Under 13 Girls race. The overall results for the Caithness athletes were as follows:-
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