Campus race is up and running again in Inverness next month
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ATHLETES are set to compete at a five kilometre race which is set to return to Inverness next month.
It has been confirmed that the Campus 5k will take place at the Highland and Islands Enterprise, University of the Highlands and Islands facility at Beechwood on Friday, July 23.
The event, which was cancelled last year due to the impact of the pandemic, was established in 2018 and last held in 2019.
The previous events attracted a host of international runners and, after lengthy negotiations to ensure Covid compliance, this year’s race is now ready to go.
Entries opened this week for the two events - an elite race for athletes expecting to run below 17 minutes and 30 seconds and an open event.
Such was the standard of these earlier runs that the qualifying time for the elite filed has had to be dropped by a full minute.
Organiser Ross Cairns says after the disappointment of last year’s cancellation, they are looking forward to staging the competition and becoming part of the north athletics calendar.
He said: “Unfortunately it wasn’t possible to hold this event last year but we are definitely up and running this time,” said organiser Ross Cairns. “There’s been a lot more work this year due to Covid requirements but everything is being done to keep runners and officials safe.
“We’ve had great fields in the past and entries are already piling in again. It’s looking like a fine night of racing.”
In 2019, Moray Road Runners athlete Kenny Wilson defended his title by breaking the course record in 14 minutes and 43 seconds. Jenny Bannerman is the defending women’s champion.
The races are also fundraisers for the Kyniska Advocacy, a charity set up by women’s course record holder Mhairi MacLennan to promote an improved sporting environment for women and girls.
