Grand Prix series nears finish line

Thursday 2nd October 2014

Jennifer Emsley and Tewolde Mengisteab are closing in on victories in the scottishathletics Road Race Grand Prix for 2014.

The Great Scottish Run Half Marathon in Glasgow on Sunday doubles up as the Scottish Half Marathon Champs and the final event of the five-race series – which carries prize-money totalling £4000.

Shettleston Harriers athlete Mengisteab is well clear in the men’s field and indeed will be among the favourites for Half Marathon title glory himself to round off a great season.

Emsley has less of an advantage but her win at the Loch Ness Marathon, where the Central AC athlete set a course record, has put her clear at the top of the women’s table.

Jennifer has 81 points with Shona McIntosh of Hunters Bog Trotters on 72. Megan Crawford of Fife is currently third on 58 while there’s a share of fourth place between Lisa Finlay of Dumfries Running Club and Central’s Morag MacLarty. Finlay is on the start-list for the Great Scottish Run and thus should add to her points tally.

In total there are seven clubs featured in the women’s top 10 with Shettleston, Edinburgh AC and Inverness Harriers represented as well as those mentioned. The rest of the women’s top 10 is made up by: Jessica Oliver-Bell, Laura Dunn, Jenny Bannerman, Avril Mason, Lyndsay Morrison.

Tewolde won the Stirling 10k in September and that took him to 93 points while Kerry Liam-Wilson’s fine marathon run at Loch Ness has elevated him to second on 57.

Wilson thus leads the chase for £375 second prize but Patryk Gierjatowicz is only a point adrift in third on 56 with Ronhill Cambuslang duo Robert Gilroy and Stuart Gibson sharing fourth place on 55.

The rest of the men’s top 10 is made up by: Lachlan Oates, Andrew Butchart, Grant Sheldon, Bryan Mackie and Paul Sorrie.

Check out the dedicated page on the Road Race Grand Prix for details on the series and the current tables before the final event.