Bannerman pleased with National Indoor Open time in rare shorter distance run in Glasgow
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Road runner Jenny Bannerman was less than a second away from the fastest women’s 1500m time at Saturday’s National Indoor Open at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena.
The 32-year-old Inverness Harrier, who has run for Scotland at distances up to the half marathon, moved right down the range to record a time of 4:38.64 for third place in an otherwise all male heat.
“I race very little on the track, usually twice a year, so I can’t be unhappy with a time like this, even though it’s a little slower than last year’s effort,” she said.
“I can never expect too much from the 1500, which is below the bottom of my normal range.
“That’s because I’m not able to do the shorter track intervals you really need for 1500 since that would interfere with my road endurance so it’s good still to be in and around the track runners.”
Stroma Fraser produced the fastest 300m time by an under-15 girl of 44.45 seconds and Abbie Harrison ran 45.06 seconds.
Luke Davidson’s 1:58.33 was the third fastest time in the 800m by an under-20 man, as was his 1500m of 4:03.38
Julie Wilson crossed the line in 5:20.20 in the over-50 category.
Inverness Harriers’ men suffered a setback in the defence of their North Cross Country League title when they fielded an incomplete team at Saturday’s fourth match at Peterhead, but it should not be a fatal blow to the team.
Stuart Gardiner finished fifth and Rob Burnett was not far behind in eighth.
But with four needing to cross the line to count, Inverness have used up their one allowable opportunity to be incomplete.
So they can afford no further slip ups in the remaining two matches if they are to go on an secure another title.
Gemma Cormack won the women’s race and Catriona Fraser was second, heading an effort which keeps Inverness well clear in that category.
