King of the track

David Knox 1607 - 1607 • Published 21 Mar 2008 09:00 0 Comments

WEST LINTON runner Chris O"Hare has been crowned UK Cross Challenge Series Champion 2008.

The 17-year-old could only finish second at the final race of the series in Nottingham, three seconds behind Somalian Abdirisac Ahmed over the 6km course.

But previous wins in Belfast and Gateshead, as well as a second in Liverpool, were enough for the Peebles High pupil to win the title.

A delighted Chris told the Peeblesshire News: 'I am delighted to have won the UK Cross Challenge.

'I won this series at Under 13 level but only managed second place at the Under 15 age group.'

Sunday"s silver comes hot on the heels of gold at the Scottish National Cross Country Series last week at wind-swept Irvine.

And the talented teenager hopes the medal-winning winter will put him in with a great chance of reaching India.

Chris added: 'This is great preparation for me to achieve the qualifying time for the 500 metres at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India in October.

'I was invited to run in the Under 20 event for possible selection to the GB team to compete at the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh next week. Selection would have been really good but I decided to go for Commonwealth selection instead.'

O"Hare also claimed both the Scottish Schools Indoor and Scottish National Indoor titles in what has been a busy start to 2008.

Coach Dave Campbell said: 'Chris is in excellent shape and his ranking as the UK Cross Series Champion is a remarkable achievement. This accolade is something that only a very few athletes can claim.

'I am sure Chris can achieve the Commonwealth qualifying times of 3.52 for the 1500 metres and 14.52 for the 5,000 metres.'

Chris"s younger sister was also adding to her medal tally last week in Ayrshire. Olivia O"Hare finished third in the Under-14s Girls race after suffering a stitch in the final stages while in contention.

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 21 Mar 08

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