EDINBURGH-BASED Spanish athlete Juan Mareque and his Aberdeen-born wife Lyn Wilson scored an impressive double by scooping the top prizes in yesterday’s City of Aberdeen 10k.
Mareque led from the start and went on to win the men’s title ahead of a field of 2,540, while Wilson broke her own course-record when finishing eighth overall.
The Spaniard, who was runner-up in 2006 and third in 2007, made no mistake on this occasion as his front-running tactics paid off with victory in his fastest Aberdeen time of 32min 17sec.
Mareque admitted, however, that he was made to work hard for his success.
He said: “It was very tough. I found the wind quite strong in places because I was on my own, so I’m pleased to win.”
Wilson was also satisfied with her performance which shaved six seconds off the course record she set in 2007 and gave her a third Aberdeen win in four years.
She said: “It was fine, but hard work. I didn’t realise it was inside the record.”
Ben Hukins (Aberdeen AAC) finished nine seconds behind Mareque to take second in the men’s race.
Hukins took some consolation by leading Aberdeen AAC to the team prize with backing from youngsters Mark Haskett, who finished third in 33:37, and Ross Fulton who was fourth in 34:18.
Frankie Barton (Keith and District), the 2003 and 2005 winner, maintained his fine record by winning the veteran’s prize in fifth position overall, just ahead of his club mate Mike Stewart.
Pamela Tosh (Aberdeen AAC) smashed her personal best by more than one minute when finishing runner-up in the women’s contest in 38:42.
Aberdeen-based Malaysian runner Chiin-Hooi Tan (Fleet Feet Triathletes) ran her quickest time of 39:31 to finish third and Moira Davie (Aberdeen University) also set a lifetime best of 39:38 in fourth position.
Aberdeen AAC collected the women’s team prize with Tosh backed up by Natalie Riley (eighth) and Fiona Geddes (26th).
Andrew Joyce defeated a field of 134 runners to win Saturday’s Stornoway half marathon.
The Stornoway Running Club member completed the course in 1hr 16min 17sec to finish more than half a mile ahead of Bellahouston’s Greig Glendinning with title-holder Ben Kemp (Portobello) back in third position.
Edinburgh-based Aberdonian Lucy Colquhoun (Carnethy) won the women’s prize when finishing 16th overall in 1:28:05. Clydesdale Harriers duo Anne Murray and Fiona McCue were second and third respectively.
Jonny Pritchard (Lewis) won the accompanying 10k in 37:41 while Christy Macleod (Stornoway) was first woman in 40:57.
Aberdeenshire’s Bella Bayliss outclassed a good field to retain the women’s title in yesterday’s Lanzarote ironman triathlon.
The north-east woman, who had been below par in her previous two ironman outings this year, in New Zealand and South Africa, bounced back to top form to win by over 20min in a course record time.
Bella’s husband Stephen was fifth (9:02:15) behind Belgium’s Bert Jammaer who won the men’s race in 8:54:03 while Aberdeen’s Scott Neyedli was sixth (9:04:29).