Scotland proved the best of British at the Commonwealth Games marathon with Susan Partridge and Derek Hawkins in good form.
Partridge had no regrets at staying with the early pace before a group of seven was cut to three later in the race, and was satisfied that her tactics had given her a chance of the medals. She finished in 2.32.18 for sixth place, the third best placing ever achieved by a Team Scotland athlete in this event at the Commonwealths. Kenyan runner Flomena Cheyech Danie won in 2.26.45.
Susan said: “It was an unbelievable experience. Of course it would have been great to get a medal. But the way it was going today it wasn’t going to happen. I ran a reasonable race, I put myself in the right positions to take advantage of any openings, I tried to go with people when they were trying to drop me. So I’ve no regrets. There’s nothing I felt I did wrong.”
Hawkins for his part was only 11 seconds off his PB for ninth place in the men’s race at 2.14.15 with Africans and Australians ahead of the Kilbarchan AAC athlete, as Australian Michael Shelley won in 2.11.15. He said,
“I really enjoyed it today, it was quite blustery out towards Bellahouston Park which made the second part quite tough, but the crowd support was unbelievable.
“The second half of that second lap they were just so loud they managed to pull me through to the end. When the finish line was in sight it was a case of: ‘Thank goodness that’s over!’ I really enjoyed it, the noise was unbelievable, especially when they started banging the boards.”
It was a special day for Kilbarchan club-mate Hayley Haining, becoming the oldest Scottish athlete ever to appear in Athletics at the age of 42. Hayley finished in 13th place in 2.40.40 and was thrilled her son Elliot, four next week, was there to see it in Glasgow’s Pollok Park.
Joasia Zakrzewski was only one place below her fellow Scot in 14th in 2.45.29 with the doctor from Dumfries picking off athletes on the second lap.Ross Houston was 16th in the men’s race with the Central AC runner’s time of 2.18.42 very similar to Derek’s in terms of PB – only 14 seconds short of his previous best.
Photo Credit: Mark Shearman