A SCOTTISH woman has been crowned the Mountain Running World Cup champion by a single point.
Scout Adkin from Peebles secured the title after four months and 12 races in seven different countries, concluding in Italy on Sunday.
The 31-year-old won her race on Saturday, then came third on Sunday which clinched her the crown for 2024.
Speaking to Scottish Athletics, Adkins said it had been "a tough" year with a lot of travel, so she was "glad it has paid off".
"It certainly went down to the wire, to the last race," she said.
"It is quite a long season with a variety of races from very short 3km and 1000 metres of climb to 32km and just over 2000 metres of climb.
"It has certainly been testing of speed and endurance and power as well - never mind facing quite a lot of heat over the summer.
"I am really, really happy. I had to do a lot of travel this year between flying to Europe and working in between, I am just so glad it has paid off."
On her social media, Adkin wrote: "I couldn’t have achieved what I have done this year without an amazing support team around me especially my partner Chris and coach Angela Mudge.
"This is for them and for the recognition of our running discipline."
In total, there were 12 races across three categories – short uphill, classic mountain and long mountain. Each race counts equally towards the final result.
The Mountain Running World Cup crowns a male and female winner.
The World Mountain Running Association said: "After finishing second in the World Cup competition last year, it was great to see her win it this year and it went right down to the final race, with Scout beating Joyce Muthoni Njeru by just one point.
"It was fantastic to see the joy on her face when she realised she'd done it."
