Strathpeffer athlete is contender for Inverness Half Marathon title
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STRATHPEFFER athlete Hamish Hickey is being touted as a dark horse to claim victory at the Inverness Half Marathon on Sunday.
The race is also hosting the Scottish championships for the first time and with North District medals up for grabs as well, it has attracted a top-class field.
Hickey has enjoyed success over much shorter distances in recent years, most recently when finishing third in last month’s Scottish 10,000m cross country championships at Falkirk, but this will be his first serious attempt at a half marathon.
The Central Athletic Club member said: “I actually took part in the Inverness race when I was 17, but that can’t really be counted.
“I ran one hour and 18 minutes, so hopefully on Sunday I’ll be able to improve on that by a fair amount. So, I’ve thrown my hat into the ring and I’m looking forward to finding out what I can do.
“It will be good to try something different. All the other guys are experienced at this distance and I’m not, so it will be very interesting.
“My plan is to go out at whatever pace they set. So, if it’s 1:04 pace, i’ll go with that, or if it’s slower I’ll stick to whatever they do.
“Once we get beyond 10k I’ll be into uncharted territory, and although I haven’t done any specific half marathon training, I’ve done long runs over the winter and I’ve got the strength obtained from the cross country season.
“So, I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be able to challenge at the front.
“I feel, if all goes well, I’m capable of running a time in at least the 1:06 range.”
Hickey’s rivals include Elgin-based Lachlan Oates (Shettleston Harriers), who won the Fraserburgh Half Marathon in November, recording 1:06:22. Fraser Stewart (Cambuslang Harriers), who was third at Inverness last year in 1:06:40, and James Donald (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers), who has a best time of 1:05:27.
