UK Intercounties XC Championships, Nottingham - 07/03/2009

Following on from her successes at Scottish level over the past 2 months, Emma Dunnett made the big step into UK level competition last weekend.

Emma was selected along with two other north athletes to compete in the UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Wollerton Park, Nottingham.

With 10,000 athletes and spectators present, this was a remarkable experience for Emma and challenged her to run out with any experience she could previously draw on.

From what felt like the relative safety of 100 runners at the Scottish Championships in February, Emma faced 307 runners in the Under 15 Girls race over a challenging 4 kilometre course.

After a slow start as the pack of runners closed in around the less experienced athletes, Emma found herself at the top of the first rise, back in approximately 100th place. Undaunted by this, she dug in and moved her way through the pack in what is becoming her strength, demonstrating an ability to sustain and pick up her pace as others around her are tiring.

After a sprint finish for the line, Emma finished a very commendable 40th, only 20 seconds off the first Scottish athlete.

With another year yet in this age group, Emma is already planning for her selection next year so that she may build on this experience.

The other north athletes to feature in this top class UK event were both from Stornoway.

Robert Jones in the Under 15 Boys finished 98th out of 304 athletes and Eilidh Mackenzie finished 117th out of 278 athletes in the Senior Women's race.

Emma has a number of national and UK level competitions still to come as we near the end of the cross country season.

This weekend both Emma and her twin sister Oonagh, will represent Thurso High School in the Scottish Schools Cross Country Championships with places in the Scottish team for the Schools International in Bangor later in the month for the top 8 finishers in the girls race.

Also this month is the Scottish Road Race Championships where Emma and Oonagh will run for the first time in their new club colours of Edinburgh Athletic Club.

The decision was taken to move the young athletes to afford them better selection opportunities and this has already paid dividend with Emma gaining selection for the Adidas London Mini Marathon as part of the Scotland team.

This 3 mile road race takes place on the 26th April in conjunction with the London Marathon and the experience will be a fitting end to what has been a fruitful winters running.

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