WATCH - Cambuslang athlete becomes Scottish champion at Inverness Half Marathon

Fraser Stewart celebrated double success as he became Scottish champion as well as winning the Inverness Half Marathon for the first time.

The 35-year-old from Cambuslang proved too good for the chasing pack as he claimed victory in a time of 65 minutes and 25 seconds.

Lewis Rodgers of Fife Athletics Club finished in second place in a time 65:37 with Strathpeffer athlete Hamish Hickey, representing Central Athletic Club finishing in third place in a time of 65:47.

Stewart says he was pushed hard by Hickey for the first nine miles, but says his experience of marathon training told and he managed to break away towards the end.

"It is first my Scottish title and only second individual medal," said Stewart.

"I have had plenty of team medals with Cambuslang, but I am delighted to get it and it was a great race between me and Hamish.

"At nine miles I managed to drop him and used my marathon training to push on and ground it out.

"I managed to push on, I knew I had the strength and managed to push on and get it."

Stewart is now preparing for the London Marathon next month and says victory in Inverness is good preparation.

"My time of 65:25 is a 30 second personal best, I knew coming into it I am aiming for the London Marathon.
"To get a personal best and a Scottish title I thought that I would never win is amazing.

"London is a big goal for me, I ran 2 hours 18 minutes at Manchester, now I need to push on and see what I can do.

"I'll trust in the process so I will see what I can do."

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