Chalmers leads Harriers to team title
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Scottish internationalist Sean Chalmers emerged as Inverness Harriers’ mystery athlete at the final North Cross Country League meeting and led the club’s team to a sixth consecutive title.
The Harriers placed eight finishers in the top nine in an event switched late on to Forres.
Chalmers broke clear from team mate John Newsom in the final lap and, with Donnie MacDonald third, the Harriers retained their crown.
This also gave Newsom the individual title by a single point from MacDonald.
Chalmers was a top junior with the Harriers, going on to gain his first Scottish senior selection in 2016 before being hit by injury.
“This was my first race for a while and I’m really pleased with the way it went,” he said.
“When they asked if I might be available, I was more than happy to travel home for the weekend and I’m really glad I did now.
“It was great to be part of such a strong turnout of Harriers men.”
The Harriers were the season’s biggest medal winners with 22 individual awards – nine gold, six silver and seven bronze – and also six of the 10 team awards.
Euan Rollo had a fine win at Forres to share the under-15 boys’ award with Lucas Cairns while Isla O’Neill’s strong finish took her across the line ahead of Lois MacRae and again the two Harriers tied for the season.
There were Harriers team wins for the Men, under-17 women, under-15 boys, under-13 boys, under-13 girls and under-11 girls teams.
In the superveteran men’s event Steve Worsley took the overall title. There was also under-20 gold for Inverness Harrier Stuart Gardiner.
He was ahead of teammate Ben Johnstone who was third. Alison Wilson came third in the veteran women’s section while Heather Gardiner came second in the superveteran women section.
Emily Andrew won under-17 women’s gold with Angus Smith claiming bronze in the boys. Sam Burnett and Jake Henderson finished second and third in the under-13 boys.
In the under-13 girls’ section Zoe Sharpe finished ahead of Grace MacDonald and Anna Cairns. Michael Miller and Hugh Burnett were second and third in the under-11 boys and Isla O’Neill and Lois MacRae shared the under-11 girls’ title.
