Mixed Emotions After Scotland's First Kilomathon

4 OCT2010

Edinburgh's Ross Houston wrote himself into the record books yesterday, after winning the inaugural Kilomathon Scotland. The event was a huge success, although was tainted by the death of a young runner from Aberdeen, who collapsed in the final stages of the race and later died in hospital.

Houston (Central Athletics) won the race in 1:26:49, followed by second placed and pre-race favourite, Martin Williamson (1:27:48), who had taken the English Kilomathon title earlier this year. Just over 1500 runners took part in this first ever Kilomathon, a metric marathon covering a 26.2km course. The route took runners over the iconic Forth Road Bridge and back, with the start/finish point in Ingliston, just outside Edinburgh.

Winner, Houston, said, "It was quite a tough course, but going over the bridge was excellent and you were able to take in the views." Second placed Williamson will now make the trip to Delhi to compete in his first ever Commonwealth Games. Third in the race was Richard Kay with a time of 1:28:39.

Winning the ladies title was Fiona Matheson (Falkirk Victoria Harriers) in a time of 1:40:29. The 49 year old said, "Running over the Forth Road Bridge was quite an amazing experience. I enjoyed the course and the kilometre markers seemed to come quickly which made you feel that you were making real headway in the race which I think must have been a morale boost for all the runners taking part." Second and third for the ladies were Samantha Amend (Belgrave Harriers, 1:41:43) and Beryl Junnier (Wee County Harriers, 1:53:25).

Rounding off the race was Eileen Pollock in 3:52:40 and the mid point runner was Leonie Kirk in 2:31:23. Full results can be found here.

During the event, a 25 year old runner from Aberdeen collapsed. He was attended to by medical staff at the scene, before being taken to St John's Hospital in Livingston, where it was subsequently confirmed that he had died. Police have reported no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. Race organisers from GSi Events, have expressed their deepest sympathy to the runner's family and friends. The runner collapsed in the latter stages of the race, in the main street of Kirkliston Village, near Edinburgh, at around 10am.