LAUDER'S Adam Craig was crowned Scottish Champion on Saturday after beating over 700 competitors at Falkirk's Callender Park.

The 23-year-old, who finished 12th over 3,000 metres at the British Indoor Championships earlier this month, led from inside the opening mile.

And he had almost a minute to spare from runner-up Kevin Wood at the finishing line.

Adam, who was a prominent competitor at the Borders Cross Country Series in his teenage years before progressing through the College system in America, had been aiming his winter at reaching this weekend's European Indoor Championships in Glasgow.

But, following Saturday's title-winning victory, his focus has returned to the longer distance.

Adam, who finished second at an international 5km race in Armagh the previous weekend, said: "I am still trying to find my feet when it comes to the surface and distance I'm best at.

"I began my running in the hills of the Borders and I've always felt comfortable at cross country.

"Everything was geared to the indoors this winter and that didn’t quite go to plan.

"Getting out in Armagh was probably the best thing for me, to get my confidence back up and build it up from there.

"I knew I was fit.

"Coming in here, I was a bit cautious. I waited half a mile but then I took over and just felt better and better.”

Adam clocked 33.50 for the six-miles course, Second-placed Wood from Fife e line in 34.48 with third-placed Michael Christoforou from Edinburgh a further two seconds back.

Next Borderers home in the 719-strong field were Gala Harriers duo Graeme Murdoch in 90th and Marcus D'Agrosa in 95th.

Teviotdale Harrier Rory Anderson was 110th.

In the Senior Women's Race, which was won by Steph Twell, Sara Green was the first Borders athlete in 27th for Gala Harriers.

Fellow Harriers Katy Barden, in 37th, and Kirstin Maxwell, in 44th, were also inside the top 50.

Adam Craig will now prepare for the World Cross Country Championships at Aarhus in Denmark at the end of March.