Borders teenager Thomas Hilton first junior at seaside 7K in Fife
Borderer Thomas Hilton finished third out of a field of almost 1,200 at last Friday’s Black Rock 5 race in Fife.
The Moorfoot Runners 19-year-old clocked a time of 22 minutes and 28 seconds for the 7km coastal course at Kinghorn to place as first junior, trailing senior winner Aidan Thompson, of Central Athletic Club, by just over half a minute.
Hilton’s time was nine seconds faster than the 22:37 that saw him win the annual event last time round, finishing 25 seconds clear of Edinburgh’s Tom Martyn, but only just enough to earn him a podium place 12 months on.
By way of consolation, he was first to reach the Black Rock on Pettycur sands, earning him the Bill Tulloch Award for fastest male competitor on the race’s outward leg, but he was overtaken by Thompson and Dundee Hawkhill Harriers’ Ryan Donald on the way back, the latter finishing as runner-up in 22:12.
Hilton was one of four Borders club runners taking part in the annual event, along with three members of Gala Harriers.
Poppy Lunn was first of them home in 30:31 for 134th place overall and second among female finishers under 20.
Her mum Gillian was 228th in 33:00 and their clubmate Louise Ponton was 1,151th in 55:16.