Jamie Crowe flew into the record books with a series of stunning performances at this weekend’s Run Balmoral meeting which attracted more than 4000 runners to Deeside.
The 27-year-old Dundee-based athlete, who represents Central AC, opened up by demonstrating a razor sharp turn of speed to smash the course record in Saturday’s Harbour Energy 5k, clocking 14:20 to slash four secends off the previous mark set by Sean Chalmers in 2022.
And this was done despite losing his lead after going off-course at one point.
Elgin-based Lachlan Oates (Shettleston Harriers) finished in the silver medal position for the second year in a row when completing the course in 14:45, and former Scottish 1500m track champion Michael Ferguson (Aberdeen AAC), competing at Balmoral for the first time, took third spot in 15:03.
Then, with little more than 60 minutes of recovery, Crowe was back on the starting line, this time for the Stena Drilling 10k.
This time he shrugged off his opponents with a performance that was oozing with power and strength, to produce another clear-cut victory. His time of 31:54 saw him finish well clear of Aberdeen AAC’s Myles Edwards (32:54) and Aaron Odentz (33:44).
But he wasn’t finished. After a good overnight rest, Crowe returned for the Bristow 15 mile trail race, cruising to a relaxed victory in 82 minutes 26 seconds, finishing three minutes ahead of Metro Aberdeen’s Kyle Greig.
Jamie said: ‘I’m preparing for next month’s Great Britain team trial for the world mountain running championships so I just want to do as many races as possible to find out about my fitness. I came up to Ballater for the week and decided to make the most of it.
‘I was surprised to get the 5k record as I went a wee bit off course. I went straight on at the point where we were meant to turn. Fortunately, Michael Ferguson called me back so I only lost five or six seconds.’
GB international Meryl Cooper (Deeside Runners) made a late surge to claim top spot in the women’s division of the Bristow 15 mile trail race with a time of 1:45:29.
Contance Nankivell celebrated her 23rd birthday by winning the women’s division of the Harbour Energy 5k in a personal best time of 17:11. Nicola MacDonald (Metro Aberdeen) won the women’s division of the Stena Drilling 10k, recording 38:41.
With thanks to Fraser Clyne
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Photo from Shettleston Harriers Facebook page
A bumper turnout…
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